July 2016

tpomag.
com
JULY 2016
Great
Chemistry
Tim Smiley
Superintendent
Glasgow, Ky.
BARREN RIVER LAKE KEEPS QUALITY

FLOWING WITH A SKILLED STAFF
AND TWO ON-SITE LABS
PAGE 28
IN MY WORDS:
The promise of biosolids

PAGE 42
TECH TALK:
Tips to extend
bearing life
PAGE 46
HOW WE DO IT:
A flexible filter for

high-rate flows
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Mail to: COLE Publishing Inc., P.O. Box 220, Three Lakes WI 54562
CORRECTION
The Annual Company Directory in the May 2016 issue of TPO included
incorrect information for two companies. Their correct contact information
is below:
Fournier Industries, Inc.

418-423-4241
f.caouette@fournierindustries.com
www.rotary-press.com
ABB, Inc.
Discrete Automation & Motion
Drives and Controls US
www.abb.com/drives
TREATMENT PLANT OPERATOR
Park Process
713-937-7602
rcaughman@park-usa.com
www.park-usa.com
contents
July 2016
top performers:
WATER: OPERATOR Page 22
Steady Hand
Operator Jerry Nicholson applies long experience, skills and wisdom to

job; winning praise, award and respect at Boulders Betasso Water
Treatment Plant.
By Jack Powell
22
38
28
12
on the cover
Superintendent Tim Smiley and

his team at the Barren River Lake
Water Treatment Plant apply
advanced knowledge of
chemistry, biology and environmental science to ensure efficient
operations and a high-quality
end product. All operators work
in the plants microbiology and
wet labs. (Photography by Martin Cherry)
WASTEWATER: OPERATOR Page 38
True Tenacity
Rick Cantus insistence on getting to the bottom of treatment issues served

his community well and saved his treatment facility millions of dollars.
By Jack Powell
WASTEWATER: PLANT Page 12
Falling Into Place
Bosque Farms operators win Wastewater Treatment System of the Year award
with specialized skills, excellent communication and a strong work ethic.
By Trude Witham
WATER: PLANT Page 28
Great Chemistry
A highly educated staff and two on-site laboratories help keep quality
water flowing at the Barren River Lake Water Treatment Plant.
By Jim Force
LETS BE CLEAR Page 8
TECHNOLOGY DEEP DIVE Page 36
PRODUCT NEWS Page 58
How was the lead contamination of tap water

allowed to happen? And as an operator, what
would you have done if forced to deal with a
similar situation?
A pipe crawler video inspection system from

Deep Trekker provides substantial versatility
in a package that can be operated by a
single technician.
Product Spotlight Wastewater: Gorman-Rupp

end-suction pumps designed for high flow,
greater head
Product Spotlight Water: Force Flow scales
safely monitor chemical usage
By Ted J. Rulseh, Editor
By Ted J. Rulseh
By Ed Wodalski
@TPOMAG.COM Page 10
IN MY WORDS Page 42
INDUSTRY NEWS Page 61
A Look Back at Flint
Visit daily for exclusive news, features and blogs.

PLANTSCAPES Page 18
Helping Hands
A California water district undertakes a stream

improvement project to enable unimpeded
annual spawning migrations for steelhead trout.
Self-Contained Convenience
A Perfect Marriage
Engineer and WERF Research Council
member John Willis finds that often the most
economical biogas and biosolids solutions are
also the most sustainable.
By Ted J. Rulseh
By Jeff Smith
WWETT SPOTLIGHT Page 44
HOW WE DO IT: WASTEWATER Page 20
Dewatering box from AQUA-Zyme Disposal

Systems can give municipalities a low-cost
alternative.
Squeeze Play
A high-rate wet weather treatment system enables

an Ohio utility to conquer CSOs and meet its
compliance deadline.
Efficient Dewatering
By Craig Mandli
By Scottie Dayton
TECH TALK Page 46
HEARTS AND MINDS Page 26
Effective bearing seals are important to long and

trouble-free life in a wide range of rotating equipment in water and wastewater treatment plants.
Making Lessons Last
A contest for fourth-graders in northern Arizona

encourages kids to express their idea of a water
ethic in artwork and essays.
By Craig Mandli
SUSTAINABLE OPERATIONS Page 34
Cleaner By Design
A Wisconsin plant goes greener with biological

phosphorus removal, higher-efficiency equipment, biogas-to-energy and other upgrades.
By Doug Day
Blocking Contamination
By Chris Rehmann
PRODUCT FOCUS Page 48
Pumps, Drives, Valves, Blowers

and Distribution Systems
By Craig Mandli
CASE STUDIES Page 56

By Craig Mandli
WORTH NOTING Page 62
People/Awards; Events
coming next month: August 2016

FOCUS:
Headworks and Biosolids Management
Lets Be Clear: Have you talked to a kid lately?
Top Performers:
Water Plant: Engineering excellence in
Sterling, Colorado
Wastewater Plant: Phosphorus reduction in
Seguin, Texas
Water Utility: City of Plant City (Florida) Water Utility
Wastewater Operator: Ed Bonham, Newton, Kansas
How We Do It: Customer engagement for
water savings
Sustainable Operations: Progress toward net zero at
Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority
In My Words: Finding nutrient credits in watersheds
PlantScapes: Old treatment lagoons host wildlife in
Marion, Massachusetts
Technology Deep Dive: Single-process control
panel from Singer Valve
The LEVELRAT provides a simple and cost-effective solution

to wastewater level measurement problems. Its unique
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small profile reduces contact area for grease and debris. It
provides dual outputs (one analog + one digital) for levels
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temperature range to ensure reliable accuracy in real-world
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The LevelRat is built to order in the U.S. in only 3 business

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THE MARK OF EXCELLENCE.

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lets be clear
A Look Back at Flint

HOW WAS THE LEAD CONTAMINATION OF
TAP WATER ALLOWED TO HAPPEN? AND AS AN
OPERATOR, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE IF
FORCED TO DEAL WITH A SIMILAR SITUATION?
By Ted J. Rulseh, Editor
T
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No part may be reproduced without permission of publisher.
he fallout from water contamination in Flint will persist for

years in politics, in lawsuits, in monitoring of childrens
health, in construction work to fix
lead-bearing service lines and household plumbing, and more.
Questions will linger at least as
long, chiefly: How was this allowed
to happen?
As I write these words, around
April 1, Im guessing that by the time
this July edition is printed, Flint will
have faded from the headlines while
corrective construction and court cases
play out in the background. But Flint
should never fade from the consciousness of water treatment professionals.
PUZZLING SILENCE
I wrote in an article for the online edition of TPO
The (So Far) Untold Story of Flint Lead Pollution, Jan.
21 that Flint was not so much a case of aging infrastructure as of failure in water treatment. Yes, the decades-old
services and household pipe connections contained lead.
But the remedy treatment of the water with anti-corrosives was simple, well known, effective, widely used and
fairly inexpensive.
What baffled me then and still does today is why (as best
I know) no one in an operations role in Flint screamed
bloody murder in public about the bad water. It baffles me
because I talk to water operators often and find they take the
quality of their end product personally they would not
sleep well at night if the water were stained brown or tasted
or smelled bad, to say nothing of being tainted with a toxin.
Millions of words about Flint have been written. Millions more will be written before the incident is consigned to
the history books. Lessons abound and surely have been
well learned. For one thing, the events in Flint are all but
certain to accelerate some utilities actions to mitigate or
eliminate lead in piping.
SOUL SEARCHING
Perhaps the most important takeaway, from an operators perspective, is to ask oneself: If I had been an operator
in the Flint water plant, and knew that rusty, bad-tasting,

likely poisoned water was being sent to peoples homes, what
would I have done about it?
When faced with hypotheticals like this, most of us tend
to assume we would have been on the side of the angels
that we would have done the moral and ethical thing, no
matter the consequences. But would we really?
Suppose we worked for a car company that we knew was
manipulating software to cheat tailpipe emissions tests.
Would we have complained to a supervisor and run the risk
of getting demoted, disciplined or fired? Or would we have
felt safer just going along, rationalizing that we didnt authorize the cheating, and anyway its happening in a different
department?
What if we worked for a large medical practice where we
knew some physicians were defrauding Medicare by submitting claims for services never performed? Would we resign
and go work for someone else? Report the fraud to government authorities? Or turn a blind eye and continue to do a
days work and collect a weekly check?
Thicken your
Sludge
A TOXIC ENVIRONMENT
Now imagine you worked for Flint. Bad water is going
out of the plant. You know it. But city government is controlled by an emergency manager. State regulators arent
taking action. Neither is the U.S. EPA. The entire atmosphere is charged with politics. You fear that if you spoke up
you would suffer negative consequences, up to and including
getting fired.
erhaps the most important takeaway, from

an operators perspective, is to ask oneself:
If I had been an operator in the Flint water plant,
and knew that rusty, bad-tasting, likely poisoned
water was being sent to peoples homes, what
would I have done about it?
Flint is economically devastated. If you were fired from
or resigned from your government job with decent pay and
benefits, you might not find anything equivalent unless you
picked up your family and moved and maybe not even
then. And after all, you are only a couple of years from retirement with a full pension.
Im not saying these were in fact the kinds of choices the
Flint operators were facing this is after all a hypothetical.
But try and put yourself in the Flint operators shoes. What
might your decision factors have been? What would you
have done?
Then try to imagine something bad happening at your
workplace not on the scale of Flint, perhaps, but with
possibly serious impacts on the public youre sworn to serve
and protect. Under your current set of circumstances, what
would you do?
You are welcome to share your thoughts on this topic.
Send them to me in an email to editor@tpomag.com. I
promise to respond, and we will publish the comments as
space permits.
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tpomag.com July 2016
@tpomag.com
Visit the site daily for new, exclusive content. Read our blogs, find resources and get the most out of TPO magazine.
OVERHEARD ONLINE
Why would you do such a thing?

Its a program that is putting people
to work in a good career
not just a job, but a good career.
Operator Training Program Loses Federal Financial Aid
Tpomag.com/featured
BOTTLES OF HOPE
Operator Sends
Water to Flint
COST SAVINGS
Whats Peer-to-Peer Training?

In the heart of British Columbia, Canada, a new
program is helping operators maintain educational requirements while eliminating travel
expense to metropolitan areas. Find out how
industry leaders are using the power of peer-topeer training to make CEUs more affordable for
those who work at remote utilities.
Tpomag.com/featured
SCHOOL ROUTINE
It only takes one person filled

with compassion and ambition
to make a difference. In this
online exclusive, find out how an
operator from Connecticut is
helping the people of Flint, Michigan. What began as a simple idea quickly
turned into truckloads of bottled water all destined for those in need.
Tpomag.com/featured
How do
nt
treatme
plants
our
protect ?
water
Get Back
to the ABCs
School presentations are
public-education gold. In this blog from veteran school
presenter and operator Jeff Kalmes, youll learn how to navigate
the school system and become an expert educator. Bonus: Kalmes
provides a sample letter that you can use to start your own program.
Tpomag.com/featured
10
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top performer
wastewater:
PLANT
Falling Into
Place
BOSQUE FARMS OPERATORS WIN WASTEWATER

TREATMENT SYSTEM OF THE YEAR AWARD
WITH SPECIALIZED SKILLS, EXCELLENT
COMMUNICATION AND A STRONG WORK ETHIC
STORY: Trude Witham
PHOTOGRAPHY: Roberto Rosales
OPERATORS AT THE BOSQUE FARMS WASTEWATER
Treatment Plant say their biggest challenge is keeping their microorganisms happy. Their biggest worry is staying ahead of grinder pump rebuilds.
Fortunately, they have it all under control.
A dedicated, experienced team keeps the plant and 1,460 grinder pumps
humming in this community of 5,000 in the Rio Grande Valley of New Mexico. They also operate and maintain the 1,400 gpm conventional water plant
and 1.0 mgd and 0.5 mgd tank wells, install and maintain water or sewer
lines, and read the water meters.
It takes all five employees to properly handle operations and maintenance of the treatment plant and both wells, says Krista Tays, utilities operator. Were on call for emergencies such as line breaks, and we take turns
handling after-hours grinder pump failures and water calls.
The hard work has paid off. The plant won the 2015 Wastewater Treatment System of the Year award from the New Mexico Rural Water Association. Treated effluent more than meets permit standards: The plant removes
99 percent of BOD and 97 percent of TSS.
HOUSEHOLD GRINDERS
Built in 1999, the 0.58 mgd (design) Bosque Farms treatment facility is
an extended aeration plant with a pressurized collections system. A village
ordinance requires installation, maintenance and inspection of grinder
pumps, grease traps and sand traps for individual connections. The grinder
12
There is practically nothing

we dont know or do, and
the employees work their tails off
keeping the plant spic and span.
KRISTA TAYS
The skimmer arm in a clarifier at the Bosque

Farms Wastewater Treatment Plant, winner
of the 2015 Wastewater Treatment System
of the Year award from the New Mexico
Rural Water Association.
13
ABOVE: The team at the Bosque Farms plant includes, from left, Kevin Fryhover, supervisor; Bobby
Oglesbee, water operator; Krista Tays, utilities operator; Ralph McClellan Jr., plant mechanic; and
Cliff Hibdon, utility director. BELOW: The plant blends in well with its scenic mountain surroundings.
Bosque Farms (New Mexico)

Wastewater Treatment Plant
BUILT: |
1999
POPULATION SERVED: |
5,000
5
FLOWS: | 0.58 mgd design, 0.23 mgd average
TREATMENT LEVEL: | Secondary
TREATMENT PROCESS: | Extended aeration
RECEIVING WATER: | Rio Grande
BIOSOLIDS: | Land-applied by injection
ANNUAL BUDGET: | $995,000
WEBSITE: | www.bosquefarmsnm.gov
GPS COORDINATES: Latitude: 34500.08N;
Longitude: 1064233.49W
EMPLOYEES: |
pumps, equipped with alarms, are connected to each residence and commercial facility in the village. Sand traps are required for car washes, schools,
day care facilities, commercial laundries and laundromats.
Influent enters the treatment plants covered anaerobic selector system,
and the contents are mixed by a horizontal mixer before moving to the aeration basin. The basin is aerated using diffused air in the tank bottom, delivered by one of three blowers, which operate alternately. The basins concrete
baffles extend aeration time and surround the secondary clarifier. A scum
skimmer arm removes floatables from the clarifier and pushes them into a
scum pit; the material eventually goes to the sludge storage basin.
Effluent is disinfected with a UV system (WEDECO - a Xylem Brand),
14
then measured with a 6-inch Parshall flume and a secondary ultrasonic flowmeter (AMETEK Drexelbrook). Discharge is to the Rio Grande.
Waste sludge is pumped with a double disc pump (Penn Valley Pump)
from the secondary clarifier to an aerated thickener, where it is thickened
with a polymer (UGSI Chemical Feed) and allowed to settle by turning off
the aeration. Biosolids are trucked to a village-owned 240-acre property for
injection into the soil.
Says Tays, When wasting, we send it to our aerated holding tank. From
there, we load it into our vacuum tanker truck and drive about 21 miles to
our injection site. A Big Foot tanker truck injects the material 6 to 8 inches
under the surface.
and McClellan, with a background in automotive repair, excels at wastewater plant equipment maintenance.
Operators perform mixed liquor suspended solids, mixed liquor volatile
suspended solids, settleability and pH tests. Equipment maintenance includes
repairing the aeration system blowers, UV system and water pump, and
When one thing works, the next thing works, and when the numbers
cleaning the clarifier and biofilter
look good and the water looks good, everything seems to fall into place. odor control system.
The largest job is maintaining
KRISTA TAYS
the grinder pumps. When one fails,
we either repair it in the field or replace it, says Tays. We take the old one
DOING IT ALL
back to our shop at the plant and clean and rebuild it.
The plants operators (referred to as utility workers) do everything from
laboratory testing and equipment maintenance to grounds work and cleaning. There is practically nothing we dont know or do, and the employees
DEALING WITH MOP HEADS
work their tails off keeping the plant spic and span, says Tays.
Tays says one of the most important tasks is educating the public about
Tays holds Level 3 wastewater and water certifications and Level 1 laboratory certification, and has
been with the village for 18 years. She reports to Cliff
Hibdon, utility director (Level 3 wastewater, Level
2 water, Level 1 lab, 22 years). The other team members are:
Kevin Fryhover, utility worker and field supervisor (Level 1 wastewater, Level 2 water, Level 1
water distribution, two years)
Utility workers Bobby Oglesbee (Level 1 wastewater, Level 2 water, 11 years) and Ralph
McClellan Jr. (10 years)
The plant is required to have two Level 3 employees (Level 4 is the highest). Each team member has
special skills. Hibdon specializes in permit reporting and oversees the grinder pump contractor installations. Tays keeps the lab and plant operating at peak
performance, and specializes in clarifier operation.
Fryhover oversees all the fieldwork and keeps the
wastewater and waterlines in good shape. He also
works with utility contractors in and around the village. Oglesbee specializes in grinder pump repair,
Two Aurora (Pentair) wash water pumps are used for the spray bar in the
clarifier and to water the apple, almond and other trees and the grounds. The
holding tank biofilter odor control fan is a Nidec Motor Corporation radial
fume exhauster with pecan hulls for the top composite cover.
A cross-cut housing displays the workings of a

grinder pump.
15
Bosque Farms Wastewater Treatment Plant

PERMIT AND PERFORMANCE (monthly averages)
PERMIT
EFFLUENT
BOD
30 mg/L
2.0 mg/L
TSS
30 mg/L
4.0 mg/L
E. coli
126/100 mL
<2.0/100 mL
pH
6.6-9.0
Compliant
Kevin Fryhover takes a sample of

biosolids, which are injected on a
village-owned 240-acre property.
TRAINING CHALLENGES
When the Bosque Farms Wastewater Treatment Plant was
built in 1999, the village hired a team of six to operate and
maintain it. Only one had wastewater treatment experience.
Kurt Moffatt, who had been working for the village water
department, became our utility director at the wastewater plant,
recalls Krista Tays, utilities operator. He had Level 4 wastewater
certification, and he trained the rest of us. On-site classes in
grinder pump connection, operation, maintenance and electrical
wiring also helped the team come up to speed. They relied on
manuals for specific plant equipment operation.
Tays, a former village animal control officer for the village,
and her new co-workers attended wastewater treatment classes
offered by the State of New Mexico. Tays had worked in a
veterinary office laboratory and so was no stranger to the lab
environment. She took classes in lab procedures through the
New Mexico Water and Wastewater Association, and helped train
her colleagues at the plant.
The polymer process posed a challenge. Operator Cliff
Hibdon and I had never worked with wastewater systems before,
Tays says. We had to learn the polymer-to-sludge ratio when
wasting in order to get the best product and keep the food and
microorganisms in balance.
Tays recalls that it took about five years for the plant to come
up to speed. Today, operators continually train on grinder pump
control board upgrades and pump wiring, troubleshooting and
repair. Says Tays, We have a pressurized system for the grinder
pumps, and the alarm system for the pumps is tied into our
electrical box, so we have to make sure the voltage is correct and
that the box is receiving all the information its supposed to.
16
We are so small that were more like family.

We have our ups and downs like a family,
but we communicate well.
KRISTA TAYS
the effects of grease and lard: It builds up inside the grinder tanks that the
pumps sit in. The motor will burn up from continually running, or the tanks
will flood because the motors dont know when to come on.
Baby wipes are also a problem: They get caught in the grinder pumps,
so we tell customers no baby wipes or diapers, says Tays. Mop heads are
another headache. Small fibers come off clothes when people wash them,
and the fibers find each other and eventually build up, says Tays. All this
tumbling and spinning in the aeration basin ends up creating humongous
mop heads. Four times a year, McClellan uses a giant pitchfork to reach into
the aeration teeth and pull out the fibers.
Perhaps the biggest overall challenge is keeping up with the enormous
workload. During the day, the staff goes back and forth between the wastewater plant and the water plant a half mile away. Whoever is on call for that
week will check the tank wells, which are about a mile apart, in the morning and each evening before quitting time to make sure everything is OK,
says Tays.
LIKE A FAMILY
A recent high point was winning the System of the Year award, which
was based on the plants consistent quality control and monitoring of effluent
released to the Rio Grande. We were proud that we won, says Tays. People in the village called and congratulated us, and Mayor Bob Knowlton presented the award to all of us at the village council meeting. It was very nice.
The plant was nominated by the villages New Mexico Rural Water representative, Susan Maupin. We thanked her for nominating us, and then
we thanked each other for working so hard at keeping the plant operating
and looking so well, says Tays.
Its a close-knit group. We are so small that were more like family, Tays
says. We have our ups and downs like a family, but we communicate well.
Every morning as people check in, we talk. If we have a new project, we have
a meeting and discuss it. The team has barbecues at the plant several times
a year, and the village does the same for all its employees.
Plant staff members give back to the community.
We give plant tours to elementary, junior high and
senior high school kids, and we also take them to visit
one of the wells, says Tays. We show videos of what
our microorganisms look like under a microscope. Our
favorite is a six-legged one that we call the water bear.
Krista Tays, utilities operator, tests

a waste activated sludge sample.
FUTURE GOALS
Staff members hope to maintain the plants efficiency now that the town of Peralta is tied into the
system. We added them in January 2016, says Tays.
Theyre about the same size as Bosque Farms, but
they have more room to expand their population.
The plant may add a primary clarifier at some
point to provide a backup if the secondary clarifier
is taken offline for maintenance. A SCADA system
and staff additions are also on the wish list. Sometimes we feel short-staffed, but over the years weve
learned to work smarter so that everything flows,
says Tays.
She cites efficiency as the teams greatest accomplishment: When one thing works, the next thing
works, and when the numbers look good and the water
looks good, everything seems to fall into place.
Hibdon agrees: The water is flowing and the toilets are flushing, so were in great shape!
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17
PLANTSCAPES
Looking upstream of Stevens

Creek during the early phase
of excavation work.
Helping Hands
A CALIFORNIA WATER DISTRICT UNDERTAKES A STREAM IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
TO ENABLE UNIMPEDED ANNUAL SPAWNING MIGRATIONS FOR STEELHEAD TROUT
By Jeff Smith
hanks to the Santa Clara Valley Water District, fish can swim upstream
again to spawn and will be able to do so for many years to come.
In 2015, after 18 years of planning and collaborating with the
California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), the district completed the first of three fish passage projects that will allow the endangered
steelhead trout and other fish to swim under bridges and migrate to their
spawning grounds.
In the Stevens Creek-Evelyn Bridge Fish Passage Project, a 10-person
crew worked for nearly two months to remove two concrete weirs and excavate a low-flow channel with grade control structures. The modifications
slowed down the creeks flow so that fish can easily swim under the bridge
and use a newly constructed fish ladder. To prevent future erosion and help
direct the stream flow, the workers lined the channel with rocks and gravel.
The weir-and-pool design is

Share Your Ideas
one of the oldest styles of fish ladders. It uses a series of small dams
TPO welcomes news about
and pools of regular length to creinteresting features of your facilitys
ate a long, sloping channel for fish
grounds, signage or buildings for
to travel around obstructions.
future articles in the PlantScapes
column. Send your ideas to editor
Spawning habitat can be lost or
@tpomag.com or call 877/953-3301.
damaged by culverts if sediment
accumulates and alters stream flow
patterns or water velocity. Its important for the fish to reach the upper portions of the watershed because fry produced there then have access to the
entire downstream watershed for rearing.
UNDOING DAMAGE
The water district has made it a priority to help restore and maintain a
healthy steelhead population in Santa Clara County. In 1997, a group of
conservation organizations including Trout Unlimited complained that
water district operations were not allowing adequate flows for the protection
of fisheries in Stevens Creek and two other watersheds. As a result, the
water district and CDFW collaborated to develop a fish habitat and conservation plan.
District representatives presented the plan at a general public meeting
in November 2009. In 2012, county voters approved what is called the Safe,
Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program, a 15-year program
designed to match the communitys needs and values. Redesign and reconstruction of fish ladders was a part of the plan.
Stevens Creek supports a self-sustaining population of winter steelhead

and had been identified by CDFW as the areas prime steelhead habitat.
Accumulated sediment and erosive flow patterns upstream and downstream
of the 14-foot-wide, 469-foot-long culvert at the Evelyn Bridge diverted the
flow and created dry areas in the creek that impeded steelhead migration.
Crews replaced a high-maintenance fish ladder that accumulated debris
and was ineffective for migrating fish. A new weir-type ladder with a scouring pool allows continuous, unobstructed passage for steelhead. The total
project cost was nearly $850,000. The scouring pools allow the fish to rest
before continuing upstream to spawn, says Melissa Moore, associate water
resources specialist for the district, based in Mountain View.
18
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maximum age is about 11 years.
BENEFITS FOR ALL

The water district expects an annual savings of
about $12,000 in operation and maintenance costs from
reduced routine maintenance and debris removal at the
new fish ladder. The projects overall success will be
determined by the ability to maintain adequate flow
in the natural stream channel during low flows. The
stream will be monitored for five years to verify the
fishes migration success under variations in flow and
annual rainfall.
Stakeholders and more than 40 citizens met last
January to celebrate completion of the fish passage project. Celebratory remarks and speeches were made by
the mayor of Mountain View, city council members and
members of various environmental and community
organizations, including International Federation of
LEFT: The original fish ladder on Stevens Creek at the Evelyn Bridge. RIGHT: The completed creek bed
Fly Fishers.
and fish ladder before stream flow.
The ribbon cutting was a real big deal to us, says
Moore. It was the first environmental project completed
under the voter-approved 15-year program.
Improving fish passage within the Stevens Creek corridor, where sumTo commemorate the project and thank the city of Mountain View for
mer flows are low, was considered critical to sustaining and enhancing the
the use of its land, the water district plans to provide an interpretive bench
steelhead population. Low summer flows are caused mainly by limited
that will showcase information about the project and steelhead trout. The
releases from the 91-acre Stevens Creek Reservoir, nearly 9 miles upstream.
bench will be installed next to a pedestrian pathway at the Evelyn Bridge
Steelhead typically ascend streams to the upper tributaries where conwith a view of Stevens Creek.
ditions are most suitable for successful emergence of fry, says Moore. Juvenile steelhead may spend up to seven years in freshwater before migrating
19
wastewater:
HOW WE DO IT
Squeeze Play
A HIGH-RATE WET WEATHER TREATMENT SYSTEM ENABLES AN OHIO UTILITY
TO CONQUER CSOS AND MEET ITS COMPLIANCE DEADLINE
By Scottie Dayton
eavy rains flowing through

the Ohio city of Springfields combined sewer system overwhelmed the wastewater
treatment plant. The city averaged
50 to 70 CSOs per year, discharging
up to 90 mgd to the Mad River.
In 2012, the city agreed with the
Ohio EPA to build a 100 mgd highrate treatment wet weather clarifier
and to have the agreement added to
its NPDES permit. The agency gave
the city a July 2015 deadline.
The review committee evaluated
bids and selected the WWETCO
FlexFilter compressible media filtration system from WesTech Engineering. The technology was brand
new, says Bill Young, acting plant
superintendent. Only one small unit
March 2015 view of the 100 mgd

WWETCO FlexFilter wet weather
clarifier (WesTech Engineering).
The system is easy to monitor, dependable, and doesnt require a

full-time operator. We met our compliance deadline and ended CSOs.
Now were looking at phosphorus removal.
BILL YOUNG
was treating stream water in Georgia. Our application was totally different
and would be constructed on a massive scale.
To gather vital information for the design engineers, operators ran a 400
gpm demonstration unit from September 2010 to November 2011. Their tests
confirmed criteria for specifying 11 filtration cells including loading parameters, media size and operating conditions. The clarifier entered service in
January 2015. Today, it treats excess flows with effluent averaging 19 mg/L
TSS and 24 mg/L BOD.
HOW IT WORKS
The clarifier traps pollutants in cells 30 feet long, 22 feet wide and 12 feet
deep, each designed to filter 10 mgd. As influent trickles down through 30
inches of synthetic fiber balls, hydraulic pressure flexes a bladder (reinforced
rubber sidewalls) inward, compressing the media from the bottom (highest
compression) to the top (no compression). This pressure gradient captures a
high volume of solids by trapping large particles in the top portion and fine
particles farther down.
The process uses no mechanical actuators or other moving parts, relying
solely on incoming hydraulic forces. Once the water overflows into the media,
20
the filtration process begins. There

is no ramp-up period after bringing
the system online. It treats the flow
FlexFilter media.
passively.
Rising influent levels activate
the cleaning cycle. Draining the cell flexes the bladder outward, releasing
the compressed bed. After an air-scoured backwash cleans the media, the
filtration cycle repeats. Effluent passes through a chlorine contact basin and
discharges to the river.
Besides the 310- by 100-foot clarifier, the $52 million upgrade included
a wet weather headworks with four 40 mgd horizontal raked bar screens
(Process Wastewater Technologies), a rock box, gate valves, 20 hp lobe blowers
(Roots Systems), sodium hypochlorite and sodium bisulfite feed pumps
(Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group), and 310 hp effluent pumps (Flygt,
a Xylem brand). An Allen-Bradley programmable logic controller (Rockwell
Automation) with touch screen enables operators to make adjustments easily.
Upgrades to the 40 mgd (design) complete-mix activated sludge plant
included two RakeMax multi-rake influent bar screens and three shaftless
screening conveyors (Huber Technology), an anaerobic digester, a 140-foot-
diameter spiral blade secondary clarifier, and rehabilitation of two 2.2-meter

Tower Press belt filter presses (Charter Machine Co.).
PRIDE OF OWNERSHIP
Seven operators (only one per shift) manage the plants daily average flow
of 15 to 17 mgd. They all contributed to the upgrades design, and it paid
dividends. Engineers had the filter backwash water discharging to the three
flight screw pump basins at the headworks. This reduced the plants capacity to treat wastewater. To restore it, operators suggested directing the backwash to the influent channel of the complete-mix activated sludge basin.
That was a major change, says Young. The team also relocated some
chemical lines to the chlorine basin and made it more efficient.
When the demonstration unit arrived, WesTech representatives trained
operators to use the PLC, a TSS meter and variable frequency drives to control flow rates. However, no one had tested the unit in cold weather. I wanted
to see how it operated as a solid block of ice, says Young. With temperatures
in the mid-teens, an operator filled the system with water, ran it for 20 minutes, shut it off, and drained it. The mercury dropped below zero that night
and stood at 10 degrees F the next morning. When the pumps were turned
on, warm effluent from the plant thawed the media immediately, and the
unit functioned flawlessly.
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In January 2015, the SCADA system brought the clarifier online seamlessly. When the 84-inch sewer backs up for 6 feet, SCADA dumps the excess
flow to the wet weather influent line, says Young. At 5.7 feet, SCADA
switches the clarifier to standby mode, which activates the first four cells. If
the flowmeter says more cells are needed, they open automatically.
Last year, the plant activated the system 20 to 30 times and used up to
seven cells. The design calls for nine active cells and two in backwash. During the first months, a major rainstorm caused the clarifier to hiccup. It closed
valves at the wrong time, sending combined flows out the top of the cells and
onto the contained service road. In response, the operator switched from the
automatic mode to manual on the PLC touch screen, then opened the inlet
valves to empty cells and catch the overflow.
The stormwater carried a high amount of TSS that filled the filters in
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the first four cells and activated the backwash cycle, says Young. However,
the PLC failed to open valves to new cells before closing other valves for
backwashing. We traced the problem to setpoints in the PLC programming
and changed them.
OPTIMIZING THE OUTCOME
Acting superintendent Bill Young adjusts the wet weather clarifiers influent
valve at the Springfield plant.
Then operators discovered that frigid air settled in the empty cells, turning them into giant freezers. During monthly midwinter thaws with days
above 32 degrees and nights below freezing, conditions in the cells formed
ice around the gate valves, causing startup problems.
Thaws also brought heavy rain. When rain was in the forecast, and to
ensure the valves worked, we manually sent effluent from the secondary clarifiers to the first four cells, says Young. That provided enough heat to melt
the ice. Operators worked with the engineer to program the deicing mode
into the SCADA software.
Basically, the wet weather system runs itself, but operators occasionally
still find little things to fix. One situation that went unnoticed was sodium
bisulfite flowing back from the dechlorination/post-aeration basin to the
chlorine contact basin. That caused the sample pump to give false chlorine
residual readings and operators to feed additional chlorine.
In time, they became suspicious and began grabbing hand samples. More
realistic numbers revealed the problem. Following the suggestion of Class 3
operator Kirk Morris, workers installed baffles in the bottom of the contact
tank to help stop the backflow.
The system is easy to monitor, dependable, and doesnt require a fulltime operator, says Young. We met our compliance deadline and ended
CSOs. Now were looking at phosphorus removal.
After Young fed alum to the plant effluent and sent it to the FlexFilter
to verify it was able to catch floc, he designed a preliminary 12-month study.
It will determine which is more economical: catching floc in the main plant
or in the wet weather clarifier.
21
top performer
water: OPERATOR
STEADY
HAND
OPERATOR JERRY NICHOLSON APPLIES LONG EXPERIENCE, SKILLS AND WISDOM TO JOB;
WINNING PRAISE, AWARD AND RESPECT AT BOULDERS BETASSO WATER TREATMENT PLANT
STORY: Jack Powell
PHOTOGRAPHY: Carl Scofield
WITH 36 YEARS IN WATER TREATMENT,

Jerry Nicholson could have called it a career a
decade ago. Fat chance. Hes committed to the industry and to providing safe, clean drinking water for
the people of Boulder, Colorado, where hes the
go-to guy at the Betasso Water Treatment facility.
Nicholson has spent his professional life learning water technology, building cohesive teams and
doing whatever it takes to keep water flowing. His
dedication paid off in September 2015 when he
received the Ralph M. Leidholdt Plant Operator
Award from the Rocky Mountain Section of the
American Water Works Association and the Rocky
Mountain Water Environment Association.
Jerry is keen on every aspect of treatment plant
operation, leaving nothing in doubt, says Tom
Settle, manager of the Betasso plant, who nominated Nicholson for the award. Jerry allows no
moss to grow under his feet. He is on the move his
entire shift, checking equipment, finding obscure
problems before they become big ones, bringing
them to the attention of management and volunteering to implement the solution. At times, he can
be a one-man water plant staff.
Nicholson says he was surprised at the award:
I didnt realize anyone had nominated me. I tell
people I won because of being in the field for 36
years, Ive stood in line longer than anyone else.
Jerry Nicholson
STABLE CAREER
That line began in March 1980, when he started as a water operator
trainee for the City of Longmont, a community of 86,000 about 12 miles
northeast of Boulder. Nicholson and his five siblings grew up in Longmont,
22
where he still lives, and graduated from Longmont

High School. He attended the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley and majored in business,
but didnt graduate, preferring to work. After
spending time in construction and other jobs, he
wanted something more permanent.
What interested me about water treatment was
the stability of getting a job where there was a real
need, he explains. With water, there isnt much fluctuation based on the economy, so youre almost
always needed. Apart from the stability, something
is always changing, whether its new treatment processes or regulations. Also, it typically isnt hard
physical labor, so you can do it over the long haul.
After five years as an operator, Nicholson became
plant supervisor, and in 1986 he rose to plant
superintendent. He held that post until October
2004, when he retired. After taking off several
months and managing construction crews, he
decided retirement wasnt for him. In May 2005, he
went to work for Boulder (population 100,000) as
an operator at the Betasso plant.
I came back as an operator because I always liked
operations and I didnt want to supervise again,
says Nicholson. In addition to holding a Class A
Water Operator license, he is certified in hydroelectric operations because Boulder has nine
hydroelectric power plants installed on water supply pipelines above and below the Betasso plant.
Being a superintendent and having run three water plants, Ive dealt
with plenty of personnel and administrative issues, says Nicholson. That
provides a different perspective. I look at things a bit differently than the
other operators because Ive experienced both sides management and staff.
With water, there isnt much fluctuation based on the economy, so youre almost always
needed. Apart from the stability, something is always changing, whether its new treatment
processes or regulations. JERRY NICHOLSON
ABOVE: Nicholson cleans, verifies and calibrates a turbi-
dimeter. LEFT: Valves release water from an indoor storage tank to outdoor storage ponds.
Jerry Nicholson,
Betasso Water Treatment Plant,
Boulder, Colorado
POSITION: |
Water operator
EXPERIENCE: | 36 years in the water industry
DUTIES: Operate 40 mgd plant, analyze lab data,
perform maintenance, mentor new
employees on water treatment processes
EDUCATION: Longmont (Colorado) High School;
attended Univ. of Northern Colorado
CERTIFICATIONS: Class A Water; hydroelectric
certification
MEMBERSHIPS: | Rocky Mountain Section AWWA
GOALS: | Continue to provide clean, safe drinking water
GPS COORDINATES: Latitude: 40 047.65N;
Longitude: 1052011.46W
23
From left, Randy Bass, Jerry

Nicholson and Jason Gil in the
plant laboratory.
Jerrys expertise is vast, and

hes a conscientious individual
who constantly tries to break down
barriers between maintenance and
operations so everybody is on the
same page in terms of supporting
our facility.
MATT SWADENER
A TEST OF METTLE
Jerry Nicholson and the other operators at the Betasso Water
Treatment Plant will have their skills and patience tested by a
major renovation project. Built in 1963 and upgraded to double
capacity in 1972, the plant will see a complete rehabilitation of its
water treatment processes.
This will be a huge undertaking for us and well need
everyone at the top of their game, says Tom Settle, plant
manager, who has been reviewing plans almost since he came
aboard in 2013. Because Jerry is so proactive and good at
spotting and diagnosing problems, hell be a great help. Key
elements of the 27-month project will include:
Installing plate settlers (Meurer Research) to enhance
sedimentation. As flow travels up the stainless steel
plates, solids settle out onto the plate surface. The clarified water is evenly extracted through the flow control
deck and distributed into troughs, where it flows out of
the sedimentation basin.
Downsizing the sedimentation basins from four to two
while keeping flow levels unchanged, as a result of the
new plate settlers.
Redoing all mixed-media filters, which have been in place
since the early 1990s.
Installing new surface washers.
Adding a sludge processing system to dewater treatment
residuals.
Replacing valves and other equipment.
At present, the Betasso plant uses Leopold filters (Xylem),
which are an older design, but provide high treatment flexibility.
Some of the filters have been reconfigured for better particulate
removal. The plant gets high marks; it has excellent source water
with low turbidity. Raw water has turbidity of less than 1 NTU;
finished water turbidity runs about 0.03 to 0.04 NTU.
Once the project is completed, well be able to run water
more efficiently, and that will help accommodate future growth,
says Nicholson. And well be able to connect to a sanitary sewer
system, which we dont have now because of our high elevation.
Despite the size and complexity of the project, were committed
to producing the water the Boulder area needs without a hitch.
24
BUSY WORK DAYS

Boulder has two water plants: the 40 mgd Betasso plant and the 20 mgd
Boulder Reservoir Water Treatment Plant, also called the 63rd Street plant.
Together, the plants employ 14 operators, four maintenance workers, three
supervisors, two electronics technicians (instrumentation and control) and
one SCADA administrator.
Situated in the Rocky Mountain foothills west of Boulder, Betasso is the
citys primary water treatment plant; it is a conventional treatment facility.
The 63rd Street plant employs a dissolved air flotation (DAF) process in
which solids float to the surface, rather than settling to the bottom of a tank.
Boulder operators get hands-on training so that they can work both processes.
On his 12-hour rotating shift starting at 5:30 a.m., Nicholson and his
shift partner, operator Randy Bass, exchange information with the night
operator before getting to work. One runs the treatment plant while the
other handles the distribution system and the hydroelectric stations.
At about 6 a.m., the plant operator does calibrations with the equipment. At 7 oclock, he runs a complete set of lab tests to evaluate the raw
water coming in from the mountain-based Barker reservoir or the Silver
Lake Watershed near the Continental Divide. He also monitors the treatment process to make sure the proper amounts of chemicals (coagulants,
chloride and fluoride) are added to the water. Then he tests the finished
water to ensure that it meets state standards.
For the distribution system, the operator goes through the SCADA
screens and checks the hydroelectric stations to see that the proper amount
of water is going through them, looks at electric output, checks the generator bearing temperatures and diagnoses any issues. He also determines how
much water is in storage; Boulders target is to have 28 million gallons on
hand. All of this requires extensive experience, considerable knowledge
and an unflappable demeanor, all of which typify Nicholson.
Jerry is a good guy to work with, says Bass, his carpooling partner and
a 14-year plant veteran. Hes hardworking and very dedicated to the plant
and to providing clean water. If he sees something that needs to be done,
whether its maintenance or a treatment issue, hell jump on it.
BREAKING BARRIERS
dents here, says Nicholson. A water plant operator is expected to be perfect all the time, and if you make a mistake and the water isnt treated
properly, you can impact the entire community.
Think about it: If a doctor messes up, it typically affects only one person,
but we can affect the health of everybody if we dont do our job correctly. I
enjoy what Im doing and Im excited about the capital improvement project
were about to undertake. Im going to work until I get bored or get tired.
Matt Swadener, a chief operator at the Betasso plant for the last 14 years,
calls Nicholson a true professional and forward-thinking operator. Jerrys
expertise is vast, and hes a conscientious individual who constantly tries to
break down barriers between maintenance and operations so everybody is
on the same page in terms of supporting our facility.
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proPV8002AD_Layout 1 5/25/11 12:06 PM Page 1
mote a team atmosphere. That meant assigning operators to work with
maintenance staff and vice versa.
When you work as an operator, you go into the
lab and run tests, look at the monitoring systems
and such, Nicholson says. But theres a lot more to
Attention Treatment Plant Operators
a plant. I always found it a lot better if you could get
operators doing maintenance and diagnosing equipment problems before those things negatively affected
plant processes.
Settle praises Nicholson for his diligence and
his willingness to watch all aspects of plant operations, constantly looking for opportunities to
improve the facility. There is no more selfless team
player than Jerry, says Settle. He quickly volunteers to assist anyone that needs a helping hand,
regardless of how nasty or dirty the job may be.
Jerry is good at teaching, which comes from his
background and length of experience both here and
his previous career at the City of Longmont. Hes
been helpful to me and good at sharing his knowledge with new people and getting them up to speed
on processes.

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TOM SETTLE
ALL ABOUT THE WATER

Nicholson takes such compliments in stride. A
self-described outdoor guy, he likes to backpack
into Colorados high-lakes wilderness area (above
12,000 feet) to fly fish and hunt. He tries to eat only
wild meat deer, antelope, moose and elk. And he
keeps in close contact with his daughter, who lives
in Colorado Springs, and a son and fellow hunter
who lives in Littleton.
Yet water treatment remains uppermost in his
mind. Its what brought him out of retirement and
what motivates him to get up at the crack of dawn
and drive to work, even braving washed-out roads
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ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF COCONINO PLATEAU WATERSHED PARTNERSHIP
HEARTS
AND MINDS
Fourth-grade teacher Jaimie

Mimran poses with her class at
Sechrist Elementary, where the
overall winners and third-place
essay winners attend school.
Making Lessons Last

A CONTEST FOR FOURTH-GRADERS IN NORTHERN ARIZONA ENCOURAGES KIDS
TO EXPRESS THEIR IDEA OF A WATER ETHIC IN ARTWORK AND ESSAYS
By Craig Mandli
childs mind is like a sponge, ready to soak up information.

How that information is processed depends on the child.
Sometimes when kids imaginations are free to run wild, the
results are extraordinary.
Thats the idea behind the Fourth Grade Water Ethic Contest,
sponsored by the Coconino Plateau Watershed Partnership (CPWP),
with Willow Bend Environmental Education Center. School classes
and individual students throughout northern Arizona are invited.
Because this contest is so open and the kids can

express their thoughts in such a variety of ways,
its fun to see what pieces the kids find important, and
whats sticking with them.
AMANDA ACHESON
To introduce them to the ethical use of water, students enter a

contest in which they demonstrate the principle of responsible water
use through artwork and essays. The ethic adopted by CPWP is
simple: Water is life.
We encourage kids to participate in a variety of ways, says
Amanda Acheson, sustainable building program manager for Coconino
County Community Development. They can write an essay or
26
draw a picture covering just about anything in the water spectrum.

We provide some guidance and instruction beforehand, but its
really based on how water conservation is interpreted through the
eyes of these students.
INQUIRING MINDS
The contest began in 2010. According to Acheson, fourth-graders were chosen because while the water narrative is touched on in
the school science curriculum, conservation is a relatively new concept for them. The contest is a way to see how that concept is hitting
home with students.
That age is where a lot of kids form habits they will follow for
years, says Acheson. The teachers do a great job talking about the
value of water, but its sometimes hard to determine how much of
those ideas they retain. Because this contest is so open and the kids
can express their thoughts in such a variety of ways, its fun to see
what pieces the kids find important, and whats sticking with them.
The call for entries goes out in September, and entries are due
after about two months. The Coconino Plateau Watershed Partnerships Public Outreach Committee chooses first-, second- and thirdplace winners in both the essays and artwork.
The winning students classes received treats: a pizza party for
first place, an ice cream social for second, and a popcorn party for
third. The winners receive other prizes, including a T-shirt featur-
The prize for best overall in the 2015 Fourth Grade

Water Ethic Contest went to Phoebe Curran and
Aubrey Johnson of Jaimie Mimrans class at Sechrist
Elementary. This is their winning essay and drawing.
says Acheson. Seeing the art helps educate the whole

community, and the kids get really jazzed seeing their
work on display all over northern Arizona.
FREE TO IMAGINE
ing the winning artwork and movie tickets. The teachers of the winning
entrants receive scholarships: $300 for first place, $200 for second and $100
for third, to be used for classroom materials.
Theres incentive for the students and the teachers to get involved,
says Acheson. Our goal is to make the contest an enhancement to the
fourth-grade curriculum all over the area.
The program works, says Acheson, because of its

unregimented approach: Its cool because were basically giving them a blank slate. Its the water narrative
and what it means to them. There really isnt a wrong
answer. Its coming from those kids minds how they
depict the water ethic.
We can preach about water conservation, but theres
only so much information you can present. When adults
read or see something that comes from a childs mind and
can see what concerns that child or even what scares them,
it can really drive the point home.
Acheson suggests that municipalities looking to start a
similar program first contact the schools and find out what
other groups are already working in the classroom. Often,
schools work closely
with wildlife and
Whats Your Story?
environmental education centers that a
TPO welcomes news about your
treatment plant staff
public education and community
could easily partner
outreach efforts for future articles
in the Hearts and Minds column.
with to present the
Send your ideas to editor@tpo
water narrative.
mag.com or call 877/953-3301.
It really goes back to our theme:
Water is Life, she says. Its all
interconnected, and water is that connective tissue.
SUCCESSFUL YEAR
Ten schools took part in the 2015 contest, submitting more than 300
total entries. The prize for best overall went to Phoebe Curran and Aubrey
Johnson of Jaimie Mimrans class at Sechrist Elementary. Second place in
art went to JaRon Fowler of Kori Moores Star School class. Second place in
essays was won by Christian Kern-Dubois from Danielle Grimmitts class
at Marshall Elementary. Third place in essays was won by Olivia Lanssens
and Mina Khatibi, also students of Mimran. Third place in art was won by
Faylee Howe from Marshall Elementary.
The students artwork is displayed at Flagstaff City Hall until mid-January, in the meeting room next to the city council chambers. The submissions are also used to promote water stewardship across northern Arizona,
through posters created for classrooms, events and presentations.
Last year, for the first time, contest organizers created laminated water
awareness signs from a 2014 winning entry and displayed them in bathroom areas at the Grand Canyon South Rim Visitors Center, the City of
Flagstaff, Coconino County, the City of Sedona, Northern Arizona University, and two elementary schools.
The bathroom posters were a huge success, and we still get requests
from parks and other municipal facilities asking where they can get them,
Last year, contest organizers created laminated water awareness signs from
a 2014 winning entry for display in public bathrooms.
27
top performer
water:
PLANT
Great
Chemistry
A HIGHLY EDUCATED STAFF AND TWO ON-SITE LABORATORIES HELP KEEP
QUALITY WATER FLOWING AT THE BARREN RIVER LAKE WATER TREATMENT PLANT
STORY: Jim Force | PHOTOGRAPHY: Martin Cherry
IF WATER OPERATORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAD
to take a chemistry test, its a good bet the Barren River Lake Water Treatment Plant team would be the winner.
Nearly all plant personnel have college degrees, many in chemistry, biology and environmental science. All operators also work in the plants microbiology or wet labs. And chemistry is the most important parameter in the
successful operation of the plant.
Its really nice when you have people who have a good understanding
of alkalinity and pH and other variables, says Tim Smiley, superintendent
of the plant in Glasgow, Kentucky. If we have issues, we have operators with
degrees ready to grasp the problem and understand it. Its a nice blend of
knowledge and experience. It makes a world of difference.
28
It also means excellent quality water and recognition from peers in the
profession; the plant won Kentuckys Best Tasting Water award in 2012, a
distribution award from the Kentucky Rural Water Association in 2014, and
this year, Water Treatment Plant of the Year from the Kentucky Water and
Wastewater Operators Association.
CONVENTIONAL PROCESS
The Barren River Lake plant draws water from a reservoir on the Barren River. Four raw-water pumps bring the supply from the intake structure
to the plant, which is rated for 12 mgd and averages about 6.76 mgd. Its conventional surface water treatment process consists of flocculation, sedimentation, filtration and disinfection.
consisting of 4- to 6-inch pipe with suction holes, were added in 2007 and
have made a difference. Weve had no buildup, Smiley says. Were not
pulling sediment into the filters.
Solids are pumped to a holding tank; when they reach a certain level,
another pump moves the material to lagoons next to the plant. After the solids dry, they are dug out and spread on utility-owned acreage around the
plant. The clarified water flows to a main header that splits into two filtration trains, each containing six 30-inch-deep anthracite-sand-gravel filter
beds with Leopold underdrains. Six
of the filters were added during the
If we have issues,
2007 plant expansion; the other six
date back to the 1990s.
we have operators
Finally, the flow is chlorinated,
with degrees ready to
polyphosphate is added for corrosion control and fluorosilicic acid for
grasp the problem and
fluoridation. Finished water is stored
in an 8.4-million-gallon container
understand it. Its a nice
before being pumped into the 800mile distribution system. Smileys
blend of knowledge and
team monitors the distribution netexperience. It makes a
work using a SCADA system (HTI).
A maintenance crew responds to line
world of difference.
breaks and manages new line instal-
Brittany Pour, lab analyst and

operator, counts colonies.
TIM SMILEY
Barren River Lake Water Treatment Plant,

Glasgow, Kentucky
Hydrogen peroxide is fed at the intake to oxidize organics and control
iron and manganese. You have to watch your doses, so as not to strip too
much iron and manganese, says Smiley. We use Hachs DR3900 spectrophotometer, and have good data on dosage. Weve had good luck with the
hydrogen peroxide as a pre-oxidant.
At the plant, the water passes through a flash mix process where lime
and a coagulant (Nichem chemical 4900) are added. Floc starts forming on
the floc blades in the four rectangular settling basins, and the staff constantly
monitors the water in an effort to maintain the biggest and best floc possible.
Tube settlers (Brentwood Industries), added during an expansion in 1997,
help settle the solids. Sludge sweepers run on a cable pulley system and sweep
solids twice a day from one end of each basin to the other. The sweepers,
BUILT: |
1967 (upgrades 1997 and 2007)

37,000
AREA SERVED: | 444 square miles
SOURCE WATER: | Barren River Lake (reservoir)
PROCESS: | Conventional
CAPACITY: | 12 mgd (6.76 mgd average)
SYSTEM STORAGE: | 8.4 million gallons
ANNUAL BUDGET: | $1.8 million (operations)
WEBSITE: | www.glasgowh2o.com
GPS COORDINATES: | Latitude: 365943.10N; longitude: 855442.77W
POPULATION SERVED: |
29
The team at the Barren River Lake Water Treatment Plant includes, front row, from left: Brittany
Pour, operator/lab analyst; Wesley Wilson, lab director/operator; and Scott Jones, operator/lab
analyst. Second row: Lee Hammer, chief operator/lab analyst; Tim Smiley, superintendent; and
Cody Richardson, operator. Third row: Scott Young, general manager; Chris Gentry, chief operator;
and Tyler Emberton, operator trainee. Fourth row: Clint Harbison, engineering manager; and
Billy Carver, systems operations manager.
lation. The utilitys engineering department helps hold down external costs
for planning upgrades another 6 mgd expansion is being planned.
CHEMISTRY IN BALANCE
Using chemistry, Smiley and his staff watch over the plant the way a
mechanic might fine-tune the engine of a classic automobile. Chlorination
is an example. We sometimes add chlorine at the flash mix points or in the
settling basins, instead of at the end of the process, Smiley says. We get
longer chlorine contact times when we add it at flash mix.
At the same time, chlorine helps depress the pH of the water, and manipulating pH in this way can help the function of the coagulants being added
at the same point. Lime increases our alkalinity, Smiley says. We need a
little chlorine to depress pH.
30
IN MEMORIAM
As pleased as Tim Smiley and his staff
were about receiving the recent Water Treatment Plant of the Year award from the Kentucky
Water and Wastewater Operators Association,
the honor was somewhat bittersweet. Thats
because Chase Powell, one of the operators
most responsible for the award, was killed in an
automobile accident last August.
Powell had been on Barren River Lake plant
staff for three years. His death demonstrated
how close-knit the plant staff is. Smiley says
everyone attended Powells funeral and felt the
loss personally as well as professionally.
Chase was my organizer, says Smiley.
He had a degree in environmental science from
the University of Kentucky, and he was really
particular about keeping records. He had all our
data and information organized in file folders,
and that made it a lot easier to find things as we
compiled the information for the award application. He even organized our tool room.
The award is given annually for having at
least a two-year operational record that demonstrates proficient operations in accordance with
all required permit standards, with no more than
one violation in the last 12 months.
The approach works best during winter, but from

April to November the staff adds chlorine at the sedimentation basin. This lessens the contact time and
reduces formation of trihalomethane (THM) and haloacetic acids (HAAs). Temperature plays a big role in
the formation of THM and HAA, says Smiley. If necessary, the staff can also employ post-chlorination at the
storage reservoir.
Operational adjustments like these show that the laboratory is the nerve center of the plant, and both the wet
lab and a microbiology lab are well used. The wet lab
enables the staff to test daily for alkalinity and hardness,
scaling, pH, fluoride, peroxide, manganese, iron and
chlorine. We walk a fine line on chlorine, says Smiley.
The EPA and the state require us to have a 0.2 ppm
chlorine residual throughout our distribution system.
We watch disinfection byproducts and bacteria very closely.
KEEPING IT CLEAR
The same goes for turbidity. Weve been meeting Area-Wide Optimization Program standards of below 0.3 NTU 95 percent of the time for 10 consecutive years, says Smiley. To maintain a low-turbidity profile, the staff
monitors turbidity continuously at four points: raw water, top of the filters,
combined filter effluent and finished water.
The lab has four separate faucets we draw from and test, says Smiley.
Each carries water from one of the sampling points. While the Hach equipment monitors continuously, the faucets enable the staff to manually check
water quality and chemistry, as well. Taste and odor are also tested, as are
algae blooms at certain times of the year.
Chris Gentry runs a check of water hardness.
While all operators are proficient in the wet lab, they are just as well versed
in operating the plants microbiology lab. The lab has the same standards
as the states microbiology lab, says Smiley, who built the lab when he joined
the staff several years ago. Having it helps us keep the water safe. If we have
a break in the distribution system and have to issue a boil order, the sooner
we get results from our own lab, the sooner we can notify our customers.
all the waste. Plus, with a good source water, we can keep coagulants and
other dosages down. That helps save on costs.
THE ROAD AHEAD
Even a smooth-running operation like the Barren River Lake plant must
look ahead, and Smileys team sees a number of challenges, some of which
may increase costs. The plant needs to replace the media
in the older set of filters. During the 2007 upgrade, we
It all goes back to personnel. From top to bottom, your
added six new filters, but now, according to our filter profiles, we probably need to be replacing the media and
biggest asset is your people. Our people care. Its not just
cleaning out the older set of filters, Smiley says. For
a 9-to-5 job. You cant just walk out the door and forget it.
us, thats a big project and a big cost.
The filters havent exhibited breakthrough, but the
TIM SMILEY
plant needs to stay ahead of the situation.
And while planning for expenditures, the team recognizes the value of
The plant also doesnt have to send samples to an outside lab and worry
investment. We just replaced the roofing on our intake and chemical buildabout hold times.
ings, Smiley says. That makes the structures more energy-efficient and that
The knowledge of chemistry helps keep costs down, too. Were really
will pay dividends by reducing heating costs.
conscientious on dosing and proper use of chemicals, says Smiley. We cut
31
The Barren River Lake Water Treatment Plant was built in 1967 and expanded
in 2007.
The EPA and the state require us to have

a 0.2 ppm chlorine residual throughout our
distribution system. We watch disinfection
byproducts and bacteria very closely.
TIM SMILEY
While investing in the plant is prudent, Smiley values investment in people even more. If theres anything hes learned in the water profession its the
necessity to hire qualified people.
The team includes:
Chris Gentry, chief operator
Lee Hammer, chief operator and lab analyst
Wesley Wilson, microbiology lab director/operator
Scott Jones and Brittany Pour, operators and lab analysts
Cody Richardson, operator
Tyler Emberton, operator trainee
It all goes back to personnel, he says. From top to bottom, your biggest asset is your people. Our people care. Its not just a 9-to-5 job. You cant
just walk out the door and forget it. We get really close at the water plant. We
32
Scott Jones checks the coagulant feed.
dont have a day off treating water never stops. We rely on each other. If
we have an issue, my staff calls me and asks what they can do.
Smiley says that feeling of dedication and mutual respect comes from his
administration and works its way down through the organization: The quality
of the people you have reflects the quality of the water youre putting out.

Brentwood Industries, Inc.
Leopold - a Xylem Brand
Hach
Nichem Co.
610/374-5109
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800/227-4224
www.hach.com
(See ad page 3)
855/995-4261
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973/399-9810
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SUSTAINABLE
OPERATIONS
Cleaner By Design
A WISCONSIN PLANT GOES GREENER WITH BIOLOGICAL PHOSPHORUS REMOVAL,
HIGHER-EFFICIENCY EQUIPMENT, BIOGAS-TO-ENERGY AND OTHER UPGRADES
By Doug Day
o serve a growing population, the Eau Claire Wastewater Treatment

Plant needed improvements.
A 2007 facility plan for the plant in northwestern Wisconsin
pointed toward adding an activated sludge process with biological phosphorus removal (bio-P) capability to meet increasing demand and satisfy new
regulations.
A higher level of treatment normally means using more energy. But Jeff
Pippenger, utilities administrator, says Eau Claire has offset that increase
by using more biogas and heat recovery; adding high-efficiency motors, blowers, mixers and variable frequency drives; upgrading heating and lighting;
and reducing chemical usage in treatment.
MULTIPLE CHANGES
The facility plan included a number of changes to improve energy and
water efficiency at the 1980s-era 11.5 mgd (design) plant. Serving 75,000 people in Eau Claire and Altoona, the plant has an average flow of 5.1 mgd.
Our rotating biological contactors werent doing a very good job on the
biological oxygen demand (BOD), Pippenger says. We were seeing our
loading coming up because the city has increased in population, and we have
more industrial companies coming in. Our secondary treatment process
wasnt keeping up with it.
The $40 million project began in spring 2013, and most of the improvements
were online by spring 2015, immediately improving treatment efficiency.
Influent flow
2013
2015
5.3 mgd
5.1 mgd
BOD loading
17,000 pounds per day
Effluent BOD
783 pounds per day
204 pounds per day
BOD treatment
efficiency
95.4%
98.3%
TSS loading
Effluent TSS
118 pounds per day
TSS treatment
efficiency
93%
99.2%
ENERGY SAVINGS
Two old 240 kW engine/generators were replaced with two 275 kW models (Gen-Tech). The additional generating capacity will save the plant about
$300,000 a year at current electricity rates.
The plants heating needs are being met partly by heat recovery from the
engines (about 20 percent of demand) and by the addition of boilers for
34
Two 275 kW cogenerator units will

increase electrical generation at the
plant and save about $300,000 a
year (Gen-Tech). Recovering waste
heat from the engines will also
contribute about 20 percent of the
plants heating needs.
digester heating. We added two

5,000 MMBtu/hr biogas boilers
from Hurst to help heat the sludge
before it enters the digesters, says
Pippenger. So were using the gas
produced in the digesters to heat
the digesters. The plant has three
primary digesters and one secondary unit.
Put online in early 2014, the boilers burned 9 million cubic feet of
A pair of Hurst 5,000 MBH boilers
biogas in the first 22 months, saving
will use biogas from the digesters to
the plant about $40,000 over natuheat sludge before it enters the
ral gas fuel.
digesters to improve treatment
Other equipment upgrades
efficiency.
included the replacement of 86 motors
1/4 hp to 350 hp with high-efficiency models from Marathon, Baldor-Reliance and Toshiba. Forty Eaton VFDs were installed throughout the facility.
To help further reduce energy demand, the plant cut back on areas that are
heated in winter and added LED lights, zone lighting controls and motion
sensors in offices and equipment rooms.
WATER EFFICIENCY
To reduce the amount of potable water used, the wastewater treatment plant
is reclaiming about 740 gpm of effluent and using it for purposes including:
Cleaning and washing a variety of equipment, including the gravity
belt thickener, process tanks, washer/compactor screens, grit classifier, lime slurry preparation tanks, scum troughs and sludge thickener hopper
Digester foam suppression in the biogas handling vessel
Elutriation for thickening primary solids in the gravity thickener
Odor control in the engineered media system in the headworks
General site cleaning and landscape irrigation
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS
The biosolids are injected with

Whats Your Story?
a plant-owned TerraGator vehicle
(AGCO). Were fortunate that we
TPO welcomes news about
have quite a few farmers close by,
environmental improvements at
Pippenger says. We dont have to
your facility for the Sustainable
drive an hour to get to the field. Theyre
Operations column. Send your
typically within 10 minutes.
ideas to editor@tpomag.com or
In 2016, Pippenger is busy
call 877/953-3301.
upgrading drinking water facilities
as the city continues to improve its
infrastructure. We have water and sewer mains that date back to the 1880s,
he says. Those are the things that keep you up at night.
To stay below its 1 mg/L permit limit on phosphorus, the facility used
to chemically treat its effluent. That is no longer necessary. It used to be our
highest chemical cost, says Pippenger. We spent
hundreds of thousands of dollars a year on ferric chloride to make sure we maintained our limit.
150 YEARS
of Quality,
Reliability &
Performance
PERFORMANCE 3
NEW LEVELS OF EFFICIENCY
IN AERATION BLOWER SYSTEMS
The Eau Claire facility also has two diesel-powered

600 kW emergency generators in the event of a power
loss to the plant (Kohler).
Phosphorus removal happens

in the selector zone of each
aeration basin. Thats an anoxic
zone, so we have low-energy
mixers. The six aeration tanks
have high-efficiency blowers.
JEFF PIPPENGER
Fewer chemicals does mean more energy expended,

but the biological process was designed for efficiency.
It is automatically controlled through oxygen, ammonia and pH probes and inline orthophosphate analysis. Phosphorus removal happens in the selector
zone of each aeration basin, says Pippenger. Thats
an anoxic zone, so we have low-energy mixers. The
six aeration tanks have high-efficiency blowers.
One result of the new treatment system is more
solids, since more waste material is being captured.
The plants biosolids are spread on area farms. Last
year we land-applied 7.75 million gallons of biosolids in the spring and fall, says Pippenger. About a
dozen farms receive material at no charge, accounting for 3,000 acres.
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35
TECHNOLOGY
DEEP DIVE
Self-Contained
Convenience
A PIPE CRAWLER VIDEO INSPECTION SYSTEM
FROM DEEP TREKKER PROVIDES SUBSTANTIAL
VERSATILITY IN A PACKAGE THAT CAN BE
OPERATED BY A SINGLE TECHNICIAN
By Ted J. Rulseh
quipment for inspecting pipes, tanks, culverts and other water infrastructure can be a major investment. Truck-mounted systems are
extremely powerful but involve substantial expense both for the
equipment and the labor to operate it. Push cameras are limited in the types
and sizes of facilities they can inspect.
Now, Deep Trekker has introduced a portable crawler camera system
that one technician can deploy in streets or in remote locations. It is battery
operated and does not require a support vehicle. The crawler and camera
have the added benefit of being fully submersible and thus useful for inspection of underwater facilities or pipes filled with water.
The technology is an offshoot of the companys experience with Deep
Trekker submersible remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) for inspecting
potable facilities such as water tanks and reservoirs. Amanda Coulas, marketing manager, talked about the crawler camera system in an interview with
Treatment Plant Operator.
: What need in the marketplace drove development of this

technology?
Coulas: Infrastructure is aging, especially in North America, and its
important that it be inspected. We work with service companies, municipalities and commercial divers, and many smaller entities find it difficult to
The crawler camera from Deep Trekker is operable by one technician and is
fully submersible.
been brought over to the crawler world. The crawler is depth rated to 164
feet. It can go into reservoirs, underwater pipelines and operate semi- or fully
submerged in stormwater systems.
: Can this unit be used for general sanitary sewer pipe and water
pipe inspections?
Coulas: Yes, definitely. We have tracks and different wheel options that
enable it to go into larger pipes, including sanitary sewer pipelines. It can also
inspect potable water pipes, and in fact any pipe as small as 8 inches. As with
our ROV system, all materials are acceptable for use in drinking water.
: What type of camera does this system use?
Coulas: We offer a static camera head and a pan-tilt-zoom camera. The
proven block camera head is intended for low-light inspection with 10x optical zoom. Six small, ultrabright, dimmable LEDs surround the camera to
provide a full shadowless view at 1,000 lumens. The cable reel has a capacity up to 1,300 feet, and we offer a deployed cable length counter.
: How are the crawler and camera controlled when deployed?

Coulas: The hand-held monitor and control unit include everything
needed to operate the system. It is designed like a familiar video game controller. One joystick controls the steerable wheels. Another joystick handles the
You dont need a generator, and you dont need a dedicated truck.
pan, tilt and zoom of the camera head.
There are buttons on the front for funcIts self-contained. It can be deployed from a pickup truck or an ATV.
tions such as bringing the camera back
AMANDA COULAS
to center and turning on or dimming the
lights. Planned innovations include an elevating arm to position the camera
afford both the manpower and the inspection systems themselves. We set
head in the middle of larger pipes. That will also be operated from the handout to make a portable pipe crawler for those small entities, as well as for
held controller.
larger ones that need a system one technician can deploy almost anywhere.
You dont need a generator, and you dont need a dedicated truck. Its selfcontained. It can be deployed from a pickup truck or an ATV.
: What about the systems video capability?
Coulas: Weve aimed to provide the same quality video recording available in truck-based systems.
: What enables this unit to operate underwater?
The monitor has a 5.6-inch screen that is about five times brighter than
Coulas: We come from the underwater world, so all the waterproofing
a laptop computer screen. The screen shows the incline roll and the camera
technology and robust components used to make our submersible ROVs has
36
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Heavy-Duty Drive heavier chains with larger countershaft
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The crawler is depth rated to 164 feet. It can go

into reservoirs, underwater pipelines and operate
semi- or fully submerged in stormwater systems.
AMANDA COULAS
pan and tilt angle. A digital video recorder plugs into the back that can hold
up to 64GB on an SD card enough for several hours of footage. An RCA
connector in the back of the monitor lets users plug into a PC or other monitor device to implement pipe survey and reporting software.
: What do you see as some of the most promising applications for
this system?
Coulas: Weve seen a lot of interest from municipalities for their sanitary sewers. Service companies that already own ROVs are interested in using
it for stormwater and potable waterlines. Some clients who use ROVs primarily for water tank inspections plan to add the crawler to their service fleet.
: Do you see significant potential in stormwater applications?
Coulas: Yes. Our ROVs are used a lot in the stormwater sector, and the
pipe crawler will expand our capabilities in that market. Different states
have different regulations about how much sediment can accumulate in
stormwater pipes. If pipes are not properly maintained, flood risks increase.
Its important for cities and suburbs to keep inspections current.
: How would you describe the durability of this equipment?
Coulas: ROV applications tend to be really rough on equipment, and
we have brought the robust engineering and construction technology over to
our crawler. Its very durable, with a diecast aluminum body and a powdercoated finish.
37
top performer
wastewater: OPERATOR
TRUE
TENACITY
RICK CANTUS INSISTENCE ON GETTING TO THE BOTTOM OF TREATMENT ISSUES

SERVED HIS COMMUNITY WELL AND SAVED HIS TREATMENT FACILITY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
STORY: Jack Powell | PHOTOGRAPHY: Oliver Parini
GO THE EXTRA MILE. FOR RICARDO

RICK CANTU, THATS MORE THAN
a saying its how he defined his life in wastewater treatment. Since he started in 1978 as an operator, Cantu has spent countless hours researching,
studying and looking at the whys behind every
process and decision, challenging his bosses and
the U.S. EPA.
The result: a stellar career marked by advancement; the respect of management, colleagues and
regulators; and, last year, the 2014 Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator of the Year Excellence Award.
Presented by the EPAs New England office,
the award acknowledges Cantus achievements as
superintendent of the Manchester (New Hampshire) Wastewater Treatment Plant. Those include
improved water sample collection, substantial cost
savings and commitment to mentoring of cleanwater professionals. The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES) was
instrumental in Cantus nomination.
STEADY PROGRESS
In 1977, he told a job counselor that he wanted to

be a radio and TV repairman. The counselor suggested Cantu go into water or wastewater treatment
where demand was high, so he earned an associate degree in water/wastewater technology from
Berlin Vocational Technical College. When he
graduated in 1978, the Berlin treatment plant had
just gone online and he got a job as an operator.
Two and a half years later, Cantu moved to the
wastewater facility in Dover (30,000 population) in
New Hampshires seacoast region and stayed six
years. He then worked four years for the plant in Biddeford, Maine, before becoming operations manager for OMI, the operations arm of CH2M HILL.
With OMI, Cantu worked for a series of plants
before leaving for Manchester, the largest city in
New Hampshire (population of 110,000). There
he worked as pretreatment coordinator from 1997
to 2002, ran the newly created stormwater division from 2002 to 2007 while handling environmental permits, and ultimately became plant
superintendent. Cantu has certifications in several states, including a Grade 4 Wastewater Operator license (highest) in New Hampshire.
I was a bit surprised that I won, because while

Ive done a lot of work in wastewater, Ive been a
IN EMPLOYEES CORNER
Rick Cantu, former superintendent of the
bit of a thorn in the EPAs side over the years, parAs superintendent of Manchesters 40-yearManchester Wastewater Treatment Plant.
ticularly when it comes to water sampling, says
old conventional activated sludge plant, Cantu
Cantu, who retired in July 2015. I was commitmanaged a $22 million annual budget ($11 milted to helping people realize that our rivers are a lot cleaner than many
lion capital and $11 million operations). He supervised 32 people, including
believe. Wastewater is the best choice I made in terms of a career.
four supervisors, five maintenance workers, five laborers, 13 operators, two
Born and raised in Berlin, New Hampshire, a city of 9,600 along the
lab technicians and three electricians, as well as one person in the stormwaAndroscoggin River, Cantu forged a resume many in the industry would
ter organization and two in pretreatment.
envy. After high school, Cantu worked four and a half years for Converse,
In addition, Cantu oversaw all plant functions and 11 pump stations servthe sneaker manufacturer. At Converse, Cantu took a Bell & Howell course
ing Manchester, Bedford, Goffstown and Londonderry. Just before retiring
in electronics, built an oscilloscope and started making a color television.
he directed a $20 million aeration project, which moved the plant from
38
Ive been a bit of a thorn

in the EPAs side over
the years, particularly when
it comes to water sampling.
I was committed to helping
people realize that our
rivers are a lot cleaner
than many believe.
RICK CANTU
Cantu has saved his community significant money with his meticulous and
effective approach to solving problems.
Ricardo Rick Cantu, Manchester

(New Hampshire) Wastewater Treatment Plant
POSITION: |
Superintendent (retired late 2015)

EXPERIENCE: | 37 years
DUTIES: | Oversaw all plant operations
EDUCATION: Associate degree, water/wastewater technology,
Berlin Vocational Technical College
CERTIFICATION: | Grade 4 Wastewater Operator
MEMBERSHIPS: Water Environment Federation, New England Water
Environment Association, New Hampshire Water
Pollution Control Association, National Safety Council
GOALS: | Consult with communities and stay active in the wastewater field
GPS COORDINATES: | Longitude: 425639.79N; longitude: 712728.78W
39
The plant team includes, from left, Fred McNeill, chief engineer; Rick Cantu,
former superintendent; Rob Robinson, superintendent; and David St. Armand,
chief operator.
mechanical aeration to fine-bubble diffusers (Sanitaire - a Xylem Brand).

The project allowed the facility to increase aeration capacity with fewer aeration tanks.
Through everything, Cantu has been steadfast in supporting his team.
One of the big things about being a good leader is standing behind your
people, he says. At a lot of places, when something goes awry, they look for
a scapegoat. My philosophy is that if someone makes a decision and it was
made with forethought, then Im with them all the way. Id rather have a person make a decision, even if its wrong, than no decision at all, as long as its
thought out.
CHALLENGING THE STATUS QUO

In his 18 years at the 34 mgd Manchester plant, Cantu distinguished
himself for tenacity in the face of tough federal and state environmental reg-
ulations. For example, in 2008 the EPA insisted that the plant install a $25
million aluminum treatment system, believing too much aluminum was
being discharged into the 117-mile-long Merrimack River. Cantu didnt
believe aluminum was a major problem and asked for an extension of the
plants NPDES permit, which set the aluminum limit at 87 ppb. The EPA
gave the facility 15 months: 12 for a study and three to produce a final report.
Cantu and a team of state DES and plant staff members collected water
under clean sampling conditions, which had never been done before in New
Hampshire. That meant double-bagging bottles, avoiding clothing with aluminum zippers and buttons, and even removing aluminum eyeglass frames
anything to prevent contamination. Samples showed that the river was
not endangered from aluminum, so the EPA dropped the requirement from
the permit.
Meanwhile, the EPA proposed permit limits for copper and lead, to which
Cantu responded, If theres no problem with aluminum, then theres probably no issue with copper or lead. He asked to do a full-year study. EPA officials agreed that the plant could take clean samples during low-flow conditions
at the river. Cantus team produced impressive numbers: They measured 20
percent of what the EPA used in fact sheet calculations from Whole Effluent
Toxicity ambient river sampling measured for copper, and a non-detect result
for lead. Again, the river was found clean in terms of those metals, so the
EPA dropped that requirement.
Rick has been willing to invest a lot of research time in topics that affect
the Manchester plant, says Kenneth Kessler, DES operations section supervisor, who nominated Cantu for the excellence award. He was always trying to get to the bottom of the reasons for decisions, rather than simply
accepting them. Rick has also been active in advocating for clean sampling
techniques, which have affected the permitting cycle for a lot of wastewater
treatment plants, finding lower background levels compared with the previous willy-nilly way data was collected.
VALUABLE MENTORSHIP
As diligent as Cantu was with sampling and permit issues, he has been
equally committed to developing wastewater talent. Kirk Ray, Manchester
plant maintenance supervisor, says, Rick mentored me in the job, helping
me understand what was required in terms of our permits and how to motivate staff. As a boss, he was very easy to work with and let you do your job
without micromanaging. Our staff liked and respected him; pretty much
wherever he went there was a lot of good humor.
Fred McNeill, chief engineer of Manchesters Environmental Protection
Division and Cantus supervisor, recalls how a few years ago Cantu mentored
AS THOROUGH AS POSSIBLE
Rick Cantus hard-nosed approach has been part of his persona at
the Manchester Wastewater Treatment Plant. Early on, he addressed
issues with pretreatment and industrial discharges.
With his strong industrial pretreatment background at OMI, Cantu
had a good idea of industry impacts. When he saw the industrial discharge
levels at the Manchester plant, he told the chief engineer that the local
industries were doing a good job. But I told him that wed have to make
some operational changes at the plant, and even though the culture wasnt
to rock the boat, he could see that what I said made sense, Cantu says.
Another example occurred when Cantu became superintendent in
2007, during an upgrade of the plants primary clarifiers. A contractor
had taken out two of the plants three clarifiers, and the two new ones
were having problems with poor capture. The contractor wanted to
take out the third one and see what would happen. Cantu and his
operators refused, preferring to keep the good clarifier. They also
brought in John Essler of CPE Services, who installs clarifiers all over
40
the country, and worked with the engineering firm of Metcalf & Eddy
to resolve the problems.
After six or seven months, the original contractor admitted that
its design specifications didnt factor in heavy return flows, says
Cantu. So the flows going through were much faster than we
anticipated and as such missed a lot of solids. In the end, we got the
contractor to pay 50 percent of the cost to retrofit those two clarifiers
and adjust the third one.
Perhaps the best example of Cantus doggedness comes from his
former boss, Fred McNeill, chief engineer. McNeill remembers getting
a memo from Cantu about algae in levels in the Merrimack River, on
which state and federal officials base phosphorus limits. One day
Rick comes running into my office and says, Look at this; this sample
was taken at 4 oclock in the afternoon, which means the sun was
setting and therefore not the optimum time to take the sample,
McNeill says. Thats how deep he drilled down.
Cantu checks the automatic raw

influent sampler.
operator Dan Driscoll, who had never

worked in the municipal wastewater
business: Rick helped him tremendously and groomed him for a leadership role here. Within five years,
Dan seized an opportunity and went
to Concord as chief operator for that
citys wastewater facility, one of the
biggest treatment plants in the state,
with a chance to become plant superintendent. It shows how effective
Rick was in getting him up to speed
on processes, regulations and management skills.
Other operators under Cantus
tutelage have gone on to senior wastewater positions in Nashua, Seabrook,
Milford and Derry. Some came in
2011 when many industries closed
down along the New HampshireMassachusetts border. Cantu made
sure they got a well-rounded education in all aspects of wastewater treatment so they would be eligible to
move up when better jobs came open.
CLOSE TO THE ACTION

Since retiring, Cantu has worked
a day or two a week helping his successor, Rob Robinson, learn the superintendents job, with its mounds of
paperwork and ever-tightening regulations. Cantu is also helping Robinson complete the aeration upgrade
and make sure that the plants phos(Rick is) a real student
phorus removal system, added in
2015, is working as it should.
of wastewater treatment
Rick has been a great help durprocesses and has a real
ing the transition period, says Robinson, who joined the Manchester
passion for the industry and
plant in 2003. Hes a real student
of wastewater treatment processes
the people who work in it. Ive
and has a real passion for the industry and the people who work in it.
learned a lot from him about
Ive learned a lot from him about
being a good superintendent.
being a good superintendent, and I
ROB ROBINSON
appreciate him sharing his knowledge so freely.
Besides helping at the plant,
Cantu has launched a small consulting business. In August 2015, he went
to Nashua and tested the water
clicked between wastewater treatbecause of lead and copper permit issues and got the same results as he
ment and me. As I tell school kids
achieved in Manchester the EPA dropped those requirements from Nashwho visit the Manchester plant, I
uas permit. Later he helped Lowell, Massachusetts, do sampling for silver,
never saw anybody get laid off in this
zinc, cadmium and other metals. Every sample came in under the requireprofession because of lack of work.
ments, which meant there was no need to treat for them. He has received calls
Plus, everyone has to go to the bathfrom some small plants that need assistance with sampling and permits.
room, and as the areas population
To relax, Cantu spends time with his wife, Rita, his high school sweetincreases, so does our workload.
heart. He also plays guitar with a group of friends and enjoys camping.
Thats just a fact.
Still, maintaining clean water remains a top priority: Something just
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41
IN MY WORDS
A Perfect Marriage
ENGINEER AND WERF RESEARCH COUNCIL MEMBER JOHN WILLIS FINDS THAT OFTEN THE MOST
ECONOMICAL BIOGAS AND BIOSOLIDS SOLUTIONS ARE ALSO THE MOST SUSTAINABLE
By Ted J. Rulseh
n a time when resource recovery is a top priority, clean-water agencies

increasingly look for biogas and biosolids solutions that are economical
yet sustainable.
In the view of John Willis, P.E., those two attributes go hand in hand a
large share of the time. Willis, a vice president with the Brown and Caldwell
engineering and construction firm, was elected to the Water Environment
Research Foundation Research Council for a three-year term that began in
April 2016.
A nationally recognized expert in biosolids and biogas-to-energy, Willis has worked for 25 years helping utilities combat inefficiency and make
the maximum use of energy. He has done significant work in areas that
include thermophilic anaerobic digestion and innovative biogas-to-energy
upgrades. He has also done work on thermal hydrolysis, digestion and biogas usage for agencies including DC Water, the Hampton Roads (Virginia)
Sanitation District, and the City of Raleigh, North Carolina.
Willis has served as principal investigator for several WERF research
programs, including Barriers to Energy Efficiency, Barriers to Biogas Use,
Undocumented Sources of Methane from Wastewater Treatment and Conveyance, and others. He was also principal investigator for the U.S. EPA
Technology Evaluation for Digester-Gas-Fueled Combined Heat and Power
and serves as chairman of the Water Environment Federations Bioenergy
Subcommittee.
Willis, who works out of Brown and Caldwells Atlanta office, holds
a masters degree in environmental engineering from Duke University
and is finishing work on a doctorate from the University of Queensland
in Brisbane, Australia. He talked about the current state of the art in biogas and biosolids, and what the future holds, in an interview with Treatment
Plant Operator.
return on investment. Often, when presented with

an opportunity to save money, a utility will say, We
need a five-year payback. Thats not sustainability-minded, and it doesnt really look at the upside.
The question ought to be, Is this likely to make my
rates lower over the next 20 or 30 years, after the
project has been completely paid for?
: Whats the issue in thinking in
terms of simple payback in some number of years?
Willis: The biggest problem with
simple payback is that people can set
an arbitrary go threshold. If a project has a 13-year payback, they can
say, Well, I need 10 years. If it instead
has a seven-year payback, they can say, I
need five. If that bar is allowed to move,
then anybody can kill the project by
creating a higher bar.
John Willis
: Are there any barriers in terms of the technical aspects of, say,
knowing how to run a combined heat and power (CHP) system?
Willis: I dont think in general thats a barrier. A bigger issue is that
producing power is not part of most wastewater utilities core business. Taking on a new obligation to keep something running that doesnt help their
effluent quality that seems to be a bigger barrier.
In terms of biogas, one of the coolest things that everybody should be

: What makes you a good
choice for a position on the WERF
looking at is vehicle fuel pulling out the CO2, pulling out all the
Research Council?
Willis: Ive been principal invescontaminants, compressing the gas and putting it into buses or sanitation trucks.
tigator on several WERF projects
JOHN WILLIS
and have been a project team member on another 15 or so. Im very passionate that as an industry we can do a
: What are some promising developments in biogas and energy
lot better job than we are today at all sorts of things, whether its doing
production that you see coming down the road?
things with less energy or with lower greenhouse gas impact. There are winWillis: In terms of biogas, one of the coolest things that everybody should
win-wins all over the place if we approach some of the key questions differbe looking at is vehicle fuel pulling out the CO2, pulling out all the conently. The Research Council has opportunities to generate projects that
taminants, compressing the gas and putting it into buses or sanitation trucks.
create high value for the industry.
There is a huge economic upside to this.
: In terms of resource recovery, and specifically biogas, what do
you see as the obstacles to more development of energy projects?
Willis: There are two economic barriers, and they actually amount to
the same thing. One is that the utility only has a certain amount of capital
and they have to spend it on something else, like a consent order or a capacity expansion. The other is that people dont think theres a good enough
42
: Why is there more upside to vehicle fuel than to CHP at the plant?
Willis: Vehicle fuel is not the best solution for everyone. But while CHP
is good, you need to treat the gas to a high level to put it into todays engines,
and then you need to run the engines. Vehicle fuel systems can be about half
as expensive from a capital perspective, and they cost less to run because
you dont have the engine. And the revenue can be a lot better. About half of
the revenue comes from replacing fuel in vehicles, while the other half is the
petroleum industrys payments to meet their renewable portfolio standards.
Under the EPAs Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), petroleum companies
need to account for a certain amount of renewable fuels of various types for
every gallon of fossil fuel they produce. The RFS came into being in 2006,
and ever since then the EPA has been running with it and making sure that
renewable fuel credits (Renewable Identification Numbers or RINs) get
bought. The renewable fuel credits are worth as much as the fuel itself, and
so wastewater utilities can double how much money they get per gallon of
biogas-derived vehicle fuel.
: Where is this being done today?
Willis: San Antonio has a plant that takes the digester gas, produces
pipeline-quality natural gas, and puts that into the distribution line. Brown
and Caldwell put a gas-upgrading system in at one of the plants in King
County, Washington, that has been running since the mid-1980s. Were doing
a project now with St. Petersburg, Florida, for vehicle fuel. It will produce
the energy equivalent of 1,700 gallons of diesel every day. It works because
the city is converting its trash truck fleet over to compressed natural gas. The
project has a $90 million construction project, but over 20 years, after paying back the capital, it will save between $30 million and $60 million.
: What about co-digestion to boost biogas production and generate more energy?
Willis: Co-digestion is exciting and we ought to be doing more of it. If
you think of what we typically treat in digesters, its once-digested food waste.
If we take in raw food waste and digest it, we get a lot more fuel value. We
get what we normally would from the sludge, and we also get what the human
body would have taken out. Its a high-Btu feedstock.
But for co-digestion to have value, you have to be using the gas. Looking
at the other side of the question, the State of Massachusetts has banned food
waste from landfills. So far they havent enforced it, but if they did, then the
food waste producers and solid waste haulers would have to find something
to do with the food waste. So there may be a revenue stream for treatment
plants accepting that material. That kind of tipping-fee revenue has driven
many co-digestion projects.
: What else on the biogas side is exciting right now?
Willis: I think the DC Water program is a new paradigm. A lot of utilities are looking at thermal hydrolysis. Thats a pretty neat technology. It
creates a lot less of a better biosolids product that dewaters better. It helps
reduce the cost, and it also allows more diverse uses. There isnt as much
yuck factor. There is a considerable product upside.
: Do you see any more futuristic technologies in the developing stages?
Willis: Theres a company called Kore Infrastructure thats looking at
turning sludge into diesel, using a process called hydrothermal liquefaction.
It takes energy and equipment to do that. Im not sure its entirely perfected
yet, but what if instead of producing biosolids we could produce diesel?
Theres a spinoff from one of the Stanford University research groups called
Mango Materials. They are using a similar high-temperature process to form
fundamental carbon molecules that can be used to produce plastics.
: Looking at the biosolids side, what do you think can be done
about the horror stories that continue to be told about land application?
Willis: The industry and the EPA have done everything we possibly can
to document that land application is safe, but we cant prove a negative. Its
pretty tough to prove that its absolutely, positively safe, even though everything weve done says the risks are virtually nonexistent. Its a public relations machine that generates the misinformation, and it just keeps cranking.
I think we need to routinely tell the public about all the good were doing
as an industry. We ought to be willing to call our newspapers and get that
message out there. Many of us still have the attitude of Lets keep our
heads down and hope the newspapers dont call. Thats shortsighted. Where
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biosolids are concerned, we ought to be talking about how good what we

already do is.
: Is there anything new under the sun in Class A biosolids products that are more readily accepted in the public arena?
Willis: I have been involved in a number of thermophilic digestion projects. Im excited about the ability to create products that people will pay for,
whether thats as simple as a dried product or composted materials and pelletized products. I think the biggest opportunity lies in putting material on
a train and taking it to places where its needed, such as the Midwest, where
there is an abundance of farmland and relatively few people. Thats a completely untapped market. There are farmers working 10,000 acres who have
never heard of biosolids. Thats just wrong. There has to be a business model
that can make that work.
: Where do you see the WERF Research Council heading?
Willis: Its an exciting time. Weve done dramatically more in the last
five years than we did in the previous five to 10. That needs to keep going.
There are many places where we can do better: efficiency, other biosolids
products, better ways of processing solids, better ways of saving costs. Every
time I looked at one of these areas, I find that getting green and being sustainable actually can save a lot of money. There is really good alignment
between being more sustainable and reducing life cycle cost.
I often find also that the best economic approach tends to be the most
sustainable from a greenhouse gas perspective, too. DC Waters biogas program saves $28 to $33 million a year in operating costs it also reduces their
carbon footprint by 35 percent. I think those kinds of opportunities exist
everywhere, but were just not looking for them hard enough. WERF is essential to the job of doing wastewater treatment better. Its a question of figuring out how to do it and how to make better decisions at the utility level.
43
spotlight
PHOTO BY CRAIG MANDLI
AQUA-Zyme Disposal Systems

Vice President Justin Atkinson,
right, describes the 30-cubic-yard
dewatering box using a scale
model. Company representatives
spoke with hundreds of WWETT
Show attendees from the private
contractor and municipal sides.
Efficient Dewatering
Water & Wastewater Equipment,

Treatment & Transport Show
www.wwettshow.com
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CAN GIVE MUNICIPALITIES A LOW-COST ALTERNATIVE
Education Day: Feb. 22, 2017

Exhibits: Feb. 23-25, 2017
Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis
By Craig Mandli
ith biosolids handling costs continuing to rise, municipalities

increasingly look to become more efficient. AQUA-Zyme Disposal
Systems had plenty of interested attendees at the 2016 Water &
Wastewater Equipment, Treatment & Transport (WWETT) Show wanting
to learn about its versatile 30-cubic-yard dewatering box.
The unit is designed to dewater municipal biosolids, septage and grease
trap waste, generally within 24 hours. Injection of polymer causes the solids to coagulate. Clear effluent drains from the box and can be sent to the
wastewater treatment plant. According to Suzetta Bonifay, sales manager,
the unit takes no energy to use and can effectively pay for itself in decreased
hauling costs.
It is an alternative to using a press unit, she says. It saves a ton of money.
VOLUME REDUCTION
The solids will be taken at most landfills, or can be turned into a compost that can be sold or applied to livestock feed fields and landscaping with
the proper permits, says Bonifay.
SMALL-PLANT SOLUTION
The box can be filled with 22,000 to 25,000 gallons of wastewater at 1.5
to 2 percent solids in about two hours. After 24 hours, volume can be reduced
by up to 80 percent. While AQUA-Zyme has long offered the box to septic
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have seen uses for it in recent years.
It makes a lot of sense for smaller wastewater treatment plants that still
use drying beds, because it can really help speed that process up, she says.
Municipalities are always looking to cut costs, and we believe this is an easy
way to help them do it.
The solids collect inside the rolloff dewatering box, which can be
It makes a lot of sense for smaller wastewater treatment plants that still
picked up and taken to a landfill or
compost facility. The unit reduces
use drying beds, because it can really help speed that process up.
the volume of solids and can enable
SUZETTA BONIFAY
the owner to generate revenue by
Bonifay says the company is already working on some innovations to the
processing waste from outside sources. Solids produced by the unit will
dewatering box to roll out at the 2017 WWETT Show: We make a product
pass the paint filter test and contain 18 to 22 percent solids. Units can be
that has a 15-year life span, which is great for a dewatering product, but were
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TECH TALK
Blocking Contamination
EFFECTIVE BEARING SEALS ARE IMPORTANT TO LONG AND TROUBLE-FREE LIFE IN A WIDE
RANGE OF ROTATING EQUIPMENT IN WATER AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS
study of equipment reliability at an industrial plant found that 40

percent of overall failures of rotating equipment, such as pumps and
mixers, were due to bearing failure.
It also found that 48 percent of the bearing failures were due to particle
contamination and 4 percent were due to corrosion caused by liquid in the
oil. That means bearing oil contamination accounted for 52 percent of all
bearing problems and 21 percent of all rotating equipment failures. [1]
One of the most effective ways to prevent contamination from water, dust
or other process fluids is with effective bearing protection. Bearing seal
upgrades have been proven to work, and with return on investment of only
a few months in some cases.
WHAT MAKES BEARINGS FAIL?

Water and wastewater treatment plants are full of rotating equipment
whose bearings can fail without proper seal protection. These failures occur
for a number of basic reasons.
Particle contamination
Particle contamination is a major problem. Even microscopic particles
suspended in the air can eventually find their way into bearings. Although
the bearing housing offers some protection, ingress can still occur.
One significant contributor to bearing oil contamination is a breathing
process that occurs in all rotating equipment. When equipment rotates, the
bearing housing heats up; the oil/air mixture inside then expands and is
article contamination is a major problem.

Even microscopic particles suspended in
the air can eventually find their way into bearings.
Although the bearing housing offers some
protection, ingress can still occur.
forced through the seal. When the equipment cools, the oil/air mixture cools
and contracts, sucking air from the environment through the bearing seals
and back into the housing.
Over time, particle contamination builds up inside the bearing, eventually leading to oil contamination, abrasion and bearing failure. If bearing
seals are to work effectively, they must facilitate this breathing cycle while
preventing particle contamination.
Some modern labyrinth seals have an air purge design that makes them
suitable for use in extreme environments and applications where contami-
46
nation may completely cover the seal

or equipment (Figure 1). These seals
use a positive air purge to enhance
the performance of the labyrinth,
along with mechanical seal pressure
balancing technology to maximize
the seal performance and minimize
air consumption.
Humidity and moisture
Figure 1. Labyrinth bearing seal
contamination
(LabTecta 660AP) on a powder
Moisture can enter bearing housapplication. Air purge keeps the
ings through seals as water vapor or
dust away from the stator to rotor
via a stream of water from hose-down
interface.
operations. It can also enter through
the breather vent, from widely used nonpressure balanced constant level
lubricators, or from abraded oil ring material.
Water vapor present in the atmosphere causes many contamination problems. Even though the air in plants may appear dry, moisture is always present. Because warmer air holds more water vapor, air around hot machinery
will have higher relative humidity.
The pathway for water vapor into bearings starts when the bearing house
begins to breathe (Figure 2). As the machine cools, warm and moisture-laden
air is sucked back into the housing. As the equipment cools and reaches the
dew point, minute water droplets form inside the bearing. Just as dust accumulates, this moisture builds up, causing corrosion and eventually failure.
Figure 2. When equipment rotates, the bearing housing heats up and the oil/air
mixture expands, forcing air through the seal. As the equipment cools, the oil/
air mixture contracts, and air is sucked into the housing, laden with dust, moisture and other harmful substances.
Moisture and humidity alone can damage mechanical components, but

they can also create an even more corrosive combination for bearings when
coupled with noxious elements from the air around the production process.
PHOTOS AND ILLUSTRATIONS COURTESY OF AESSEAL
By Chris Rehmann
a temporary micro-gap, allowing expansion of the oil-air mixture in the

bearing housing and enabling the equipment to breathe. When the equipment stops rotating, the micro-gap immediately closes, forming a perfect
seal that keeps dust and moisture from being sucked back into the bearing
housing (Figure 4).
Figure 3. A modern labyrinth bearing protection seal on an Archimedean screw

fitted in a wastewater treatment plant.
The best way to deal with this moisture contamination is to use a modern labyrinth bearing protection which, when the shaft stops rotating, creates a perfect vapor seal against moisture and dust. These designs also protect
against other sources of moisture, such as water jets, and can operate in totally
flooded or submerged environments (Figure 3).
Excessive heat
Overheating is another cause of bearing failure. The trick is to run the
bearing at optimum temperature; that requires optimum lubrication. A sure
sign of bearing overheating is discoloration of the rings, balls and cages in
shades of blue to brown. Unless the bearing is made of special alloys, temperatures of about 292 degrees F (200 degrees C) can anneal the ring and
ball materials, resulting in loss of hardness and, in extreme cases, deformation of the bearing elements.
The most common causes of overheating are excessive speed, inadequate
heat dissipation (insufficient cooling) and lubricant failure.
Overheating is a major issue, as even slightly elevated temperatures can
cause oil or grease to degrade or bleed, reducing lubrication efficiency. Under
even higher temperatures, oxidation destroys lubricating elements and leads
to formation of carbon, which may clog the bearing. The best way to extend
lubricant life and keep it in optimum condition is to use a labyrinth bearing
protector, proven to prevent contamination ingress and lubricant egress.
LUBRICATION ISSUES
Another major reason bearings fail is improper lubrication, which accounts
for about one-third of failures. Reasons for inadequate lubrication range from
poor lubricant viscosity, prolonged service or infrequent changes, excessive
temperature, the wrong type of lubrication, and over-lubrication (the rolling
elements of bearings operate at their optimum temperature when the minimum amount of lubrication is used).
Creating optimum lubrication is a balancing act: Both over- and underlubrication can create problems, as will use of a lubricant not suited to the
equipment. Consistency, viscosity, oxidation resistance and anti-wear characteristics all figure into lubricant selection. Usually, the application dictates
the amount, type and frequency of lubrication needed.
EXTENDING BEARING LIFE

In recognition of bearings vulnerability, more advanced labyrinth bearing
protection seals have been developed to protect against all the major types of
contamination. These seals are non-contacting in operation to avoid shaft wear,
and they incorporate dynamic lift technology to protect against breathing issues.
The technology uses the centrifugal force of rotating equipment to open
Figure 4. While the shaft is rotating, a micro-gap opens, allowing thermal
expansion within the bearing housing. While the shaft is not rotating, the
micro-gap is closed, forming a perfect vapor seal.
These labyrinth seals can reduce water contamination of the bearing oil
from as high as 83 percent to just 0.0003 percent compared to lip seals, even
when exposed to high-pressure water jets. They are also designed with a thinner cross section and seal length, and thus can be retrofitted on more equipment without modifications. The seals can be retrofitted to damaged shafts,
avoiding costly replacement.
CONCLUSION
Bearings require a continuous clean film of lubricant in the appropriate
amount. An effective way to achieve this is with labyrinth bearing protectors. They can help increase reliability in pumps, electric motors, fans, pillow blocks, steam turbines and gearboxes.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chris Rehmann is business development manager for AESSEAL, a company

specializing in design and manufacture of mechanical seals and support systems
based in Knoxville, Tennessee, www.aesseal.com.
References:
[1]
Bloch, Heinz; Pump Users Handbook: Life Extension, 2011.
47
product focus
Drives
Pumps, Drives,
Valves, Blowers and
Distribution Systems
By Craig Mandli
Blowers
EURUS BLOWER ZG TRI-LOBE
AERATION BLOWERS
ZG tri-lobe aeration blowers for MBBR,
biosolids and/or equalization tanks from
Eurus Blower are rated to 15 psig and ZG tri-lobe aeration blowers
from Eurus Blower
flows to 3,950 cfm. They have integralshaft ductile iron impellers, dual splash lubrication, oversized roller
bearings, piston ring air seals, viton lip seals, plus low vibration and
noise characteristics. Packages have an integrated intake filter/silencer
with washable filter media, heavy-duty base/integrated discharge silencer,
vibration dampers, OSHA guard and a V-belt drive with auto belt tensioner. Options include motors, check valves, safety valves, flexible connectors and sound enclosures. 630/221-8282; www.eurusblower.com.
FPZ SCL K10-MS

The SCL K10-MS blower from FPZ incorporates regenerative/side-channel technology to provide up to 556 scfm with continuous pressure up to
7.6 psig. It is available in 7.5, 10, 15, 20 or 25 hp versions, depending upon pressure requirements. Standard motors are suitable for use with variable
SCL K10-MS blower
frequency
drives, so the blower can operate at slower
from FPZ
speeds to minimize power consumption. It has an
integral, direct-drive TEFC motor (no belts/transmissions) and is oilless, requiring virtually no maintenance. Optional intake/exhaust ports
maximize installation flexibility. It weighs less than 300 pounds and
has a noise level under 82 dBA. 262/268-0180; www.fpz.com.
WASTEWATER DEPOT PACKAGED

BLOWER MOTOR UNITS
Packaged Blower Motor Units from Wastewater Depot are preassembled units, housed in
a fiberglass sound-reduction enclosure with optional
electrical controls. Packaged air systems are available as a standard factory package or are
engineered to meet specialized require- Packaged Blower Motor Units
from Wastewater Depot
ments. The units are built using a choice
of Roots, Sutorbilt or Tuthill positive displacement blowers and use a standard ODP motor or an optional TEFC motor (explosion-proof motors are
also available). The discharge piping includes a pressure relief valve, pressure gauge and check valve to prevent pressure backflow from entering
the blower. The vented fiberglass housing includes vibration isolation mounts
to reduce both vibration and noise emitted from the system. A rubber hose
connection is provided with the package for ease of installation at the project site. All packages enable simple on-site installation, whether going into
a service building or outdoors. 513/732-0129; www.wastewaterdepot.com.
DSI DYNAMATIC EDDY CURRENT DRIVE

Eddy Current Drives from DSI Dynamatic directly convert constant speed rotary energy of a standard motor to precisely controlled speed or torque, without significant electrical
conversion. No harmonic distortion or audible noise is created, and the equipment operates in normal ambiEddy Current Drives
ent conditions without the need for auxiliary cooling
from DSI Dynamatic
or special power supply considerations. When applied
to centrifugal pumps or blowers, power consumption compares favorably
with that of variable frequency drives. Ratings range from fractional to
approximately 2,500 hp. Designs include integral motor/drive units, horizontal coupled units and vertical designs with a variety of thrust-handling capacities. Weather-protected designs are available for outdoor
applications. They are supplied with the EC-2000 Controller, which
enables digital or analog integration with digital process control systems,
SCADA systems or PLCs. The flexible keypad enables simple programming of control parameters and digital display of any two of several status parameters. 800/548-2169; www.dynamatic.com.
KAMAN INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES

TRANS-POWER
Trans-Power decentralized AC drive solutions
from Kaman Industrial Technologies provide plant
operators flexibility and ease of use, saving operators
time, energy and money. Locating the drive near the
equipment eliminates cable runs to
space-consuming panels. They have Trans-Power decentralized AC
drive solutions from Kaman
IP66 NEMA 4X enclosures with inteIndustrial Technologies
grated operators, lockable power disconnects, simple setup and commissioning, and 14 parameters that get
most applications up and running, with 50 parameters total. 800/5262626; www.transpower.com.
Hydrants
WCM INDUSTRIES WOODFORD U200M/W
The Woodford U200M/W freezeless, high-flow utility hydrant
from WCM Industries is designed for use where year-round
availability of water is required. It can be used for filling tanks
and cleaning equipment, automatically draining (so the hydrant
cant freeze) when the hose is detached. It is available with a manual-close lever handle or wheel handle (to regulate water flow).
The lever handle can be removed to prevent unauthorized use.
The hydrant is serviceable from above ground; all working parts
can be removed through the top of the hydrant. The outlet can
be located at any height above ground level; bury depth is
adjusted accordingly. 800/621-6032;
Woodford U200M/W utility
www.woodfordmfg.com.
hydrant from WCM Industries
Motor and Pump Controls

CRYSTAL ENGINEERING XP2I
The XP2i digital pressure gauge from Crystal Engineering is available in three accuracy levels. In addition to the plus-or-minus 0.1 percent of reading version, accuracy options of plus-or-minus 0.02 percent
of full scale and plus-or-minus 0.05 percent of full scale include the
same features, and were created to meet the requirements of DNV for
FREE INFO ON THESE PRODUCTS RETURN FOLLOWING FORM
48
hydrostatic testing. The increased accuracy levels mean

that the XP2i can now be used in high-accuracy lab
applications. It can be combined with optional data logging software to provide high-accuracy, intrinsically
safe pressure recording. Start and stop multiple runs
from the keypad, and when finished, simply download
the data to commonly used spreadsheets. Simple software reduces the amount of training time
XP2i digital pressure gauge
needed to accurately record pressure. It can
from Crystal Engineering
be combined with the GaugeCalHP pressure comparator and high-pressure Crystal Pressure Fittings. 215/3556900; www.ametekcalibration.com.
dating 360-degree bends in the cable run.

It is suitable for use in extreme climates,
making it ideal for water and wastewater
applications. Valves in underground pits
that create a risk for falling, or in areas
with odors from chemicals or waste,
FlexiDrive remote valve operator
can be operated from a safe locafrom Smith Flow Control
tion. A submersible version is available that operates valves in up to 50 feet of water. It is completely
maintenance free, and available in two sizes to accommodate large
and small valves. 859/578-2395; www.smithflowcontrol.com.
Pumps
GREYLINE INSTRUMENTS
MODEL DFS 5.1 DOPPLER
FLOW SWITCH
The Model DFS 5.1 Doppler Flow
Switch from Greyline Instruments measures liquid flow with a non-contacting
Model DFS 5.1 Doppler
Flow Switch from
ultrasonic sensor mounted on the outside
Greyline Instruments
of 1/2-inch-diameter or larger pipes. It
installs in minutes, no pipe drilling or cutting is required, and there is
no maintenance. It is designed for pump protection, valve control and
flow/no-flow alarms. It is ideal to control wastewater, slurries, caustics,
acids and difficult liquids. The watertight NEMA4X switch enclosure
includes a 5-amp DPDT control relay with adjustable on and off setpoint controls, adjustable time delay, flow rate bar graph, and relay status LEDs. A sensor mounting kit is included, and the sensor cable can
be extended up to 492 feet. 888/473-9546; www.greyline.com.
BBA PUMPS
BA180E D315
The BA180E D315 compact
8-inch dry self-priming pump
BA180E D315 pump
from BBA Pumps provides a maximum
from BBA Pumps
capacity of 3,150 gpm and a maximum head
of 135 feet at 59 psi. It is driven by a Caterpillar diesel engine that
meets stringent global emission standards. It is built according to
strict U.S./EU emissions legislation and is suitable for use worldwide, and comes in a sound-attenuated enclosure, ensuring a low
noise level and protection against dust, wind, rain and snow. It has
a high-end LOFA control panel with support in 10 languages. Its
light weight makes it easy to move around on site, or it can be mounted
on a trailer. 843/849-3676; www.bbapumps.com.
PRIMEX MUNI FLOAT

The MUNI float from PRIMEX is internally
weighted, mechanically activated and provides level
control in municipal sewage pumping stations or
applications with high grease content. Gold crosspoint contacts provide precision and reliable control signals up to 1 amp. The CSA-certified unit can
be used in water and sewage applications, as well as in low-current control panel alarms and with programMUNI float from PRIMEX
mable logic controllers. It has an SPDT cable
that can be wired as normally open or normally closed, a large twin-wall teardrop float design offering increased
buoyancy, and a two-tone colored float housing for easy identification.
844/477-4639; www.primexcontrols.com.
PULSAR PROCESS MANAGEMENT

FLOW PULSE
Flow Pulse from Pulsar Process Management is a
noninvasive flow monitor that clamps to the outside of
a pipe and is simply secured with a screwdriver, meaning theres no need to break into a pipe or get any engineering involved. It offers repeatability
and is available in a variety of systems, Flow Pulse flow monitor from
Pulsar Process Management
either as a sensor only, a fixed flow system or a portable flow system. 850/279-4882; www.pulsar-pm.com.
SMITH FLOW CONTROL FLEXIDRIVE

The FlexiDrive remote valve operator from Smith Flow Control
helps workers remotely operate valves in hard-to-reach or hazardous
locations. Its linear drive cable transfers torque from a handwheel to
any conventional wheel-operated valve up to 100 feet away, accommo-
BLUE-WHITE INDUSTRIES
PROSERIES-M M-2
Designed for smaller municipal
water and wastewater systems, the ProSeries-M M-2 peristaltic metering injector pump from Blue-White Industries
ProSeries-M M-2 peristaltic
metering injector pump from
is suited for injecting the aggressive
Blue-White Industries
and/or viscous chemicals often used in
water treatment applications. It has an intelligent control system
that permits connection to SCADA systems and other remote controllers. Optional advanced SCADA communications command and
status capabilities include start, stop, prime, and setpoint speed,
motor status and others. Available protocols include Profibus DPV1,
Modbus RTU, Modbus-TCP, EtherNet/IP and Profinet RT I/O.
Built-in inputs include 4-20mA and pulse inputs for remote external speed control and either powered 6-24 VDC or non-powered
dry contact closure for remote start/stop. Outputs include one
250-volt/6-amp relay to monitor the tube failure system and flow
verification system, and 4-20mA analog signal scalable to the motor
speed. It has feed rates from .01 to 17.2 gph, pressures to 125 psig,
200-1 turndown ratio and is NSF-Listed Standard 61. 714/893-8529;
www.blue-white.com.
BJM PUMPS SKGF SERIES

The SKGF Series submersible pump from BJM Pumps is designed
to pump clear or solids-laden liquids up to 200 degrees F (93 degrees
C). It has RAD-AX Dual Shredding Technology to obliterate difficult solids in high temperature installations using radial and axial
shredding elements. It has hardened 440C stainless steel (HRC 55)
shredding elements. Its controlled shredding system efficiency alleviates potentially high surge loads to the motor. Large solids can
49
product focus

pass through the impeller and volute, coupled to a hightorque four-pole motor (2, 3 and 5 hp) for large solids
shredding. An oil-lubricated double-mechanical seal
with separate lip seal protects the motor. A heavy-duty
SOOW power cable and Seal Minder cable enable early
warning pump and motor protection.
SKGF Series submersible
860/399-5937; www.bjmpumps.com.
pump from BJM Pumps
BOERGER BLUELINE
The Boerger BLUEline rotary lobe pump is
a self-priming, valveless, positive displacement
pump used for the conveyance of biosolids, grease,
sewage, scum, lime slurry, alum sludge, permeate and polymers. There are 21 pump models in
BLUEline rotary lobe
six
series with pulsation-free operation, fully reverspump from Boerger
ible rotation, dry run capabilities and flow rates
up to 7,500 gpm. They are stable and wear-resistant with MIP-Design
(Maintenance in Place) that allows for all wetted parts to be easily
replaced through the front cover without the removal of pipe or drive
systems. 844/263-7437; www.boerger.com.
CRANE PUMPS & SYSTEMS

BARNES SOLIDS HANDLING
SERIES
Barnes Solids Handling Series pumps
from Crane Pumps & Systems are municipal-quality submersible non-clog pumps
with 3- through 10-inch discharge sizes
Barnes Solids Handling
Series pumps from Crane
in 2 to 150 hp. They deliver clogging
Pumps & Systems
resistance by providing three impeller
styles to match varying solids loads. In addition to a variety of vortex,
monovane and dual vane impeller designs, they have a plug-and-play
power cord that eliminates the need to pull power cords out of conduit
in order to work on the pump. They provide flows up to 4,000 gpm and
heads to over 240 feet including low-flow, high-head pumps with steep
performance curves designed for low-flow connections to existing pressure mains. 937/778-8947; www.cranepumps.com.
ENVIRONMENT ONE CORPORATION

ALL-TERRAIN SEWER
The All-Terrain Sewer (ATS) from Environment One
Corporation is ideal for extremely flat, wet, rocky or hilly
conditions. The system, driven by a rugged, long-lasting
grinder pump, provides the freedom to sewer anywhere
at a fraction of the cost of gravity sewer
All-Terrain Sewer (ATS) from
systems. 518/346-6161; www.eone.com.
Environment One Corporation
FLYGT - A XYLEM BRAND EXPERIOR

The Experior pump system from Flygt - a Xylem Brand
incorporates state-of-the-art hydraulics, premium-efficiency motors and intelligent controls. N-technology, a
premium-efficiency motor and SmartRun control provide efficient wastewater pumping and energy savings. Adaptive N-hydraulics further improve the
clog-free, energy-saving pump perforExperior pump system
mance. N-technology is suited for speed
regulation, as self-cleaning functionality from Flygt - a Xylem Brand
operates independently of rotational speed. SmartRun control is preprogrammed to meet specific wastewater customer requirements. It has up
to 4 percent higher motor efficiency than the nominal premium-efficiency
motor standard. 855/995-4261; www.xylem.com.
GOULDS WATER TECHNOLOGY,

A XYLEM BRAND, E-HM
The horizontal e-HM Series of multistage pumps from Goulds Water
Technology, a Xylem brand, comes in six models for modular construction, and is available for usage in applications such as industrial washing and refrigeration, food and beverage, water
treatment and pressure boosting. This pump has
lower life cycle costs and leaves a smaller energy
footprint compared to previous models. The
standard balanced impeller leads to a 40 percent reduction in axial thrust and the 20 percent increase in body thickness leads to a
e-HM Series of multistage
higher working pressure and reaches a flow
pumps from Goulds Water
rate of 27 gpm. A broad hydraulic range and
Technology, a Xylem brand
multiple space-saving configurations have
reduced carbon dioxide emissions while increasing performance. 866/3254210; www.goulds.com.
GRUNDFOS PUMPS SL1

The SL1 submersible wastewater pump from Grundfos
Pumps is designed to handle raw, unscreened sewage, effluent, large volumes of surface water and process water in
municipal, utility and industrial applications. The solids-handling pump, in motor ranges from 1.5 to 15 hp,
has a tube impeller to accommodate solids up to 4 inches,
and is designed particularly for large flows
of raw sewage. It is designed for perma- SL1 submersible wastewater
pump from Grundfos Pumps
nent submerged installation in demanding applications such as municipal wastewater, network pumping stations,
wastewater treatment plants, public buildings, housing projects and other
commercial applications. The series is designed with IE3 premium efficiency motor components, quick-removable pump housing clamps, cartridge seals, quick-removable plug-in cord, and smooth exterior components
for high efficiency performance. 800/921-7867; us.grundfos.com.
LAKESIDE EQUIPMENT
CORPORATION SCREW PUMPS
Screw pumps from Lakeside Equipment
Corporation have built-in variable capacity
that automatically adjusts the pumping rate
and power consumption while operating at
a constant speed to match the incoming
Screw pumps from Lakeside
flow. They have a high rate of acceptance
Equipment Corporation
for their ability to lift water efficiently at
any stage of the treatment process. They can be used in a variety of applications, including wastewater plant lift stations, return activated sludge,
stormwater pumping, land drainage and industrial applications. They
efficiently lift large quantities of water at low heads. Patterned after the
Archimedean screw, the pumps assembly consists of a simply designed
screw, upper bearing, lower bearing and drive arrangement. 630/8375640; www.lakeside-equipment.com.
MEGATOR CORP. ALPHA

The Alpha skimmer from Megator Corp. removes wastewater scum
from aeration tanks. Made of stainless steel, it handles aggressive liquids at varying depths and concentrations. It has a lightweight design
50
with one-man operation, an adjustable intake weir, a tri-float design for

stability and a shallow draft that
enables it to operate in as little as 12
inches of water. The skimmer can
be arranged for gravity flow in
new construction. 800/2456211; www.megator.com.
Alpha skimmer
from Megator Corp.
MET-PRO GLOBAL PUMP

SOLUTIONS FYBROC 5530 SERIES
The Fybroc 5530 Series vertical pump from Met-Pro
Global Pump Solutions is a corrosion-resistant pump suitable for handling difficult dry pit applications including acids,
bleaches and caustics. The design includes mounting outside
tank, FRP construction and FRP wrapped shaft (1/8 inch),
heavy-duty column, shaft and bearings,
Fybroc 5530 Series vertical
and optional high-pressure shaft seal.
pump from Met-Pro Global
215/723-8155; www.mp-gps.com.
Pump Solutions
NEPTUNE CHEMICAL PUMP

COMPANY 7000 SERIES
The 7000 Series mechanical metering pump from Neptune Chemical
Pump Company eliminates the use of
contour plates on the liquid side of the
diaphragm, resulting in a simple,
7000 Series mechanical
straight-through valve and head metering pump from Neptune
Chemical Pump Company
design that allows improved flow
characteristics. Its designed to handle clear liquids with viscosities ranging from water-like to 5,000 cPs. The capacity is manually
adjustable via micrometer dial while the pump is running. This
allows the pump to produce flow rates ranging from 10 to 450
gph at head pressures up to 150 psi. Its liquid ends are constructed of PVC with explosion-proof, variable-frequency
drive and washdown-duty motor options available. It is
also self-priming. 215/699-8700; www.neptune1.com.
PENTAIR - FAIRBANKS NIJHUIS

VTSH-SCR
By using an induced flow impeller design, the
VTSH-SCR from Pentair - Fairbanks Nijhuis provides
a wider variable-speed operating range than conventional solids-handling pumps. This provides flexibility
to the operator to adjust for unanticiVTSH-SCR pump from
pated flow demand or suspension velocPentair - Fairbanks Nijhuis
ities that could clog traditional pumps.
913/371-5000; www.fairbanksnijhuis.com.
PROMINENT FLUID CONTROLS

GAMMA/ X
The gamma/ X solenoid diaphragm metering
pump from ProMinent Fluid Controls is userfriendly and has a long service life. A solenoid
control measures the back pressure and protects
the system from overload. This technology makes
a pressure sensor superfluous,
gamma/ X solenoid diaphragm
meaning that operating safety metering pump from ProMinent
Fluid Controls
can be significantly increased
boldly go
where no aerator or mixer
has gone before.
Aqua-Jet aerator featuring

Fold-a-Float technology.
The Fold-a-Float self-deploying, segmented float

from Aqua-Aerobic is lowering capital costs while
removing THMs from enclosed water reservoirs through
openings as narrow as 30 inches.
This patent-pending float technology is engineered to
self-deploy when it meets the surface water in a tank
or basin. Once in-place, the Fold-a-Float may be fitted
with an Aqua-Jet aerator or AquaDDM mixer power
section to provide efficient aeration or mixing.
Fold-a-Float units are ideal for applications where
conventional equipment simply cant go.
www.foldafloat.com
815-654-2501
51
product focus

since no additional parts come into contact with the feed chemical. It is
suitable for continuous micrometering from 1 mL/h thanks to the regulated solenoid drive. It has integrated pressure measurement for greater
safety during commissioning and during the process. It includes an
integrated seven-day timer for timed metering tasks. It can be integrated
into automated processes and used in all industries, and can work as a
control unit with the process timer. 412/787-2484; www.prominent.us.
PULSAFEEDER PULSATRON
PULSAtron pumps from Pulsafeeder have a guided
check valve system with a seat-and-ball design that
ensures reliable and accurate metering year after
year. Their fin-cooled solenoid enclosure dissipates
heat, ensuring that the pressure-handling capability of the pump can be maintained. The thermally
protected solenoid protects the pump from seizPULSAtron pumps
ing up in extreme heat conditions with an autofrom Pulsafeeder
matic reset feature, allowing the pump to resume
operation upon cooldown. Units are tested and rated under hot conditions so flow and pressure ratings meet specifications. They offer flows
up to 600 gph and pressures up to 300 psi, with a wide range of flows
and pressures. 800/333-6677; www.pulsatron.com.
SCHREIBER TUBE-MOUNTED
SCREW PUMP
The tube-mounted screw pump from Schreiber incorporates the Archimedean screw
pump concept in a self-contained unit for ease
of installation and construction. It transports
Tube-mounted screw
liquid inside a stationary tube, simplifying
pump from Schreiber
design and eliminating grouting. Units are
factory assembled and can be set at a fixed angle, or the lower end can
be supported by a hoist to vary the pump angle and for maintenance
access. The pump provides variable capacity at constant speed. It uses
a single-row spherical roller and self-aligning combination radial/thrust
lower support bearing. A flanged bearing provides radial support at the
upper shaft. 205/655-7466; www.schreiberwater.com.
SMITH & LOVELESS STAR ONE

The STAR ONE non-clog pump from Smith &
Loveless raises the bar on pump efficiency anywhere
from 3 to 5 percent higher than previous pump models. It has an oversized, stainless steel shaft that minimizes overhang, reducing shaft def lection and
improving pump efficiencies. This is achieved through
minimal pump heights and rigid construction. Shaft end play is limited to STAR ONE non-clog pump
from Smith & Loveless
bearing shake. Shaft runout is limited to
0.003 inch. Close tolerances are tighter than even NEMA specifications.
The impeller is designed for maximum efficiency, as by trimming the
impellers inside the shrouds, it leaves the back shroud full diameter to
prevent stringy material from winding around the shaft and reducing
efficiencies. 913/888-5201; www.smithandloveless.com.
ensures increased reliability with silicon carbide

axial and radial bearings, which are lubricated by
the pumped liquids. The electric motor is situated
at a distance from the pumped liquid, and pump
depth can vary using multiple pump shafts with
intermediate bearings to meet specific application requirements. It is designed for low net
positive suction head values with optimized
hydraulic performance. It has easy maintenance
CombiSump pump
in a compact form and can meet a wide span of
from SPX FLOW
duties. Its base plates are designed to meet existing support arrangements for easy installation. Shaft-sealing options are
available with lip seal, mechanical shaft sealing EN12756 or API682/685.
800/252-5200; www.spxflow.com.
STENNER PUMP COMPANY SVP SERIES

The SVP Series from Stenner Pump Company is an adjustable, variable-speed peristaltic metering pump that can accept a 4-20mA signal
to pace the pump, making it suitable for industrial applications and
municipal water and wastewater treatment plants. It has a DC motor and
an LED keypad to adjust the output by increasing or decreasing the
motor speed. The turndown ratio is 20-to-1 with 1 percent increments.
They offer a maximum of 40 gpd with pressures to 100 psi. The SVP1 is
manually adjusted using the keypad. The SVP4 is designed
to respond directly to a 4-20mA input signal from water
treatment controls, including pH and ORP monitors
to maintain proper water chemistry and treatment
of effluent discharge water. The SVP4 includes an
external port to accept the signal, or it can override
the 4-20 mode and be adjusted manually
SVP Series metering pump
with the arrows on the keypad. 800/683from Stenner Pump Company
2378; www.stenner.com.
TACO SFI
SFI self-sensing, variable-speed end-suction
pumps from Taco, with integrated VFDs, permit fast, accurate balancing. They help to reduce
balancing contractor costs, eliminate expensive
wiring and the need for external sensors. They
meet the latest standards for hydraulic performance and dimensional characteristics for quiet,
SFI pumps from Taco
dependable performance. Their SelfSensing
bypass option is an advantage for engineers who
seek to bypass the variable-speed control. Customers can order either a
NEMA 1 drive with an ODP motor or a NEMA 12 drive with a TEFC
motor. An easy-to-replace, slip-on shaft sleeve facilitates easy field maintenance. Their dry shaft design protects the pump shaft by eliminating
contact between the shaft and the circulating fluid. Flush-seal line taps
allow installation of a filter to protect the seal from noncondensable particles in the system. Pressure tappings on the suction and discharge connections are standard. 401/942-8000; www.taco-hvac.com.
THOMPSON PUMP
STANDBY PUMP UNITS
SPX FLOW COMBISUMP

The CombiSump pump from SPX FLOWs Johnson Pumps Combi
system provides modular solutions using common components shared
across different models. It is a vertical long-shaft sump pump designed
for usage with thin liquids. It has a minimum submersible depth and
Standby pump units from

Thompson Pump
52
Permanently installed standby pump

units from Thompson Pump continue
pumping despite power loss or primary
pump failures. The automatic self-priming pumpset can meet system demands
during wet weather, routine maintenance, new construction or emergency repair.
Operating as a complete backup pump station, this system includes

the Enviroprime System, which actively prevents sewage spills. It
uses programmable electronic controls, which make use of sensors
that monitor levels in the wet well and initiate backup pumping as
programmed. In addition to these SCADA-capable controls that
send an alarm to alert the operator, these pumps are available with
the Silent Knight canopy that reduces sound levels for residential
areas. 800/767-7310; www.thompsonpump.com.
VAUGHAN COMPANY
TRITON
Triton screw centrifugal pumps
from Vaughan Company handle thick
biosolids, large or stringy solids,
shear-sensitive fluids, and delicate
or highly abrasive materials. They
have non-overloading power
characteristics, heavy-duty power Triton screw centrifugal pumps
from Vaughan Company
frames and a flushless mechanical seal. A water-flushed mechanical seal or packing is available.
888/249-2467; www.chopperpumps.com.
VERTIFLO PUMP
COMPANY 2100 SERIES
The 2100 Series trash and solids-handling self-primer pump from Vertiflo Pump
Company is offered in a variety of materials, including cast iron, 316 stainless steel
fitted, all 316 stainless steel, CD4MCu fit2100 Series pump from
ted, and CD4MCu. With several model
Vertiflo Pump Company
sizes available, customer requirements for
pumping clear and corrosive liquids can be satisfied with capacities ranging up to 1,300 gpm, heads of 112 feet, suction lifts up to
25 feet and 3-inch spheres. 513/530-0888; www.vertiflopump.com.
WANNER ENGINEERING VECTOR MODEL 2006

The Vector Model 2006 peristaltic pump from Wanner Engineering can handle difficult or challenging fluids without altering
their composition. The pump can move high-viscosity fluids and
pasty, pulpy, thick, abrasive and corrosive solutions, as well as fluids containing compressible solids up to
1 inch in size. It can be used to pump process fluids such as acids, slurries, sewage,
chemicals, cosmetics, pigments, dyes, paints
and inks, plus a variety of foodstuffs. It
has a maximum flow rate of 14.1 gpm and
maximum discharge pressure of 60 psig. Its
suction lift capability is 24 feet.
Vector Model 2006 peristaltic
It compresses and relaxes a
pump from Wanner Engineering
hose to pump fluid, and has a
roller mechanism instead of a rigid shoe to push the fluid through
the hose. This isolates the fluid being pumped within the hose so
it can handle difficult fluids without contamination and to help
ensure longer service life with less downtime and maintenance.
612/332-5681; www.hydra-cell.com.
WILDEN PUMP & ENGINEERING

ADVANCED FIT AODD PUMP
The Advanced FIT line of air-operated double-diaphragm
(AODD) pumps from Wilden Pump & Engineering precisely fit
bolt to bolt and pipe to pipe in existing fluid-handling piping sysFREE INFO ON THESE PRODUCTS RETURN FOLLOWING FORM
To learn more visit us at

www.boerger.com
or call 612.435.7300.
53
product focus

tems to provide increased performance with

no repiping necessary. They have been engineered to be an easy, cost-effective way to enhance
and upgrade existing pump performance with
bolted product containment. 909/422-1730;
www.wildenpump.com.
Seals
Advanced FIT line of air-operated

double-diaphragm (AODD) pumps
from Wilden Pump & Engineering
HOFFMAN & LAMSON MAX SEAL

The MAX Seal from Hoffman & Lamson, Gardner Denver Products, reduces fugitive emissions by up to 67 percent compared to traditional seal options, while extending the mean time between
failures. It is a dry-running mechanical axial seal, constructed of 316 stainless steel with replaceable wearing components. The seal does not require a gas purge,
reduces lubricant contamination and eliminates bearing contamination from process gas. It is available as
a field upgrade for multistage centrifugal blowers, and
can be installed on site without replacMAX Seal from Hoffman &
ing any major blower components. It
Lamson, Gardner Denver Products
is ideal for landfill gas and applications where toxic and potentially explosive gases are handled, improving the safety of an operation while extending bearing life and lowering
total cost of ownership. 724/239-1500; www.hoffmanandlamson.com.
INPRO/SEAL COMPANY
SMART SHAFT GROUNDING
Smart Shaft Grounding from Inpro/Seal Company combines Current Diverter Ring technology with features to increase reliability
and decrease maintenance costs. They increase
motor reliability by providing voltages a low
impedance path to ground away from the
bearings while monitoring grounding
Smart Shaft Grounding
effectiveness. They provide permanent
from Inpro/Seal Company
protection from conduction-inhibiting
shaft oxidation and offer continuous monitoring and feedback of shaft
grounding performance. With conductive filaments and a bearing-bronze
sleeve design, they integrate Current Diverter Ring technology and the
VBXX Bearing Isolator to protect against contamination ingress and
lubrication loss as well as stray currents. Isolated conductive filaments
and a zero-maintenance conductive bronze rotor provide connectivity
in harsh conditions. The Smart Ground Monitor alerts users in real time
of non-optimal contact between the filaments and shaft. 800/447-0524;
www.inpro-seal.com.
Valves
FORCE FLOW/HALOGEN
ECLIPSE
The Eclipse emergency valve shut-off
system from Force Flow/Halogen
Eclipse emergency valve shut-off
instantly closes the container valve system from Force Flow/Halogen
when a signal is received from a
leak detector, panic button or from SCADA. The actuator quickly installs
on the tank without the use of any tools and allows manual operation of
the valve while in place. During an emergency shutdown event, the system measures the actual torque applied to the valve to ensure that the
valve is closed to Chlorine Institute-recommended standards and provides remote confirmation that the emergency close operation successfully closed the valve. 925/893-6723; www.halogenvalve.com.
HENRY PRATT COMPANY TRITON

RUBBER SEATED BUTTERFLY VALVES
Triton rubber seated butterfly valves from Henry Pratt
Company are used in the water and wastewater industries and conform to AWWA C504 requirements. They
are available in sizes ranging from 24 through 162
inches in flanged and mechanical joint ends. The flowthrough disc design on 30-inch and larger valves provides more strength with less weight and a greater free
flow area that results in lower pump
Triton rubber seated butterfly
costs. Their E-Lok seat-in-body
valves from Henry Pratt Company
design allows the seat to be adjusted
or even replaced in the field, without dewatering the pipeline. 877/4367977; www.henrypratt.com.
LINED VALVE COMPANY

BONNETED KNIFE GATE VALVE
Bonneted knife gate valves from Lined Valve Company have
the ability to instantly shut off in solid materials without clogging, as the body cavity, seat configuration and beveled gate of
bonneted knife gates are designed for this function. The design
specifically addresses fugitive emissions and packing leakage,
as round-shaped stems are easier to seal, plus the packing area
is greatly reduced, producing a better seal. Their durability and
corrosion resistance extends valve life and reduces total cost of
ownership. They have a stainless steel body,
Bonneted knife gate valves
gland, yoke, gate and stem. 888/256-5779;
from Lined Valve Company
www.linedvci.com.
OCV CONTROL VALVES MODEL 22

Model 22 control valves from OCV
Control Valves have rectangular-shaped,
soft-seat seals that provide a drip-tight
Class VI closure. Their throttling seat
retainers create flow and pressure stability, preventing water loss and systemdamaging surges. They allow supply
Model 22 control valves
facilities to vary pressures and/or flow
from OCV Control Valves
based on external factors, such as time of
day. They are registered to ISO 9001 and are certified to the most comprehensive NSF/ANSI 61 listing in the automatic control valve industry.
918/627-1942; www.controlvalves.com.
PROCO PRODUCTS PROFLEX STYLE 750

The ProFlex Style 750 inline check valve
from Proco Products is designed for heavyduty water/wastewater applications where elements such as abrasive slurries or sludge are
present. The enclosed body check valve has a
maintenance-free design with no hinges or
seals to bind or freeze. No external
ProFlex Style 750 inline check
power sources are required. It has
valve from Proco Products
low headloss with a full port design,
which opens with minimal head pressure and closes with any back pressure exerted on the valve. It is provided with two clean-out ports and is
54
made of carbon steel with an epoxy coating. The bolting dimensions are in accordance with ANSI 125/150 patterns. 800/344-3246;
www.procoproducts.com.
SCHIEBEL ACTUATORS
ELECTRIC SPRINGRETURN ACTUATOR
Electric spring-return actuators from Schiebel Actuators are
electric actuators with a purely
Electric spring-return actuators
mechanical safety function. The
from Schiebel Actuators
working principle is based on
a non-self-locking actuator with a pretensioned disc-spring package connected without couplings. In the event of a power outage or
triggering of the safety function, the actuator moves into a preset
position so that no hazards are posed to humans or the environment. They come with integrated controls with a Bluetooth interface and an app with which remote control of actuators is possible.
Operation and configuration data can be sent for online diagnosis,
making preventive maintenance as well as swift remedying of malfunctions possible. 770/349-6308; www.schiebel-actuators.com.
VICTAULIC AWWA VALVES

The Series 365 Vic-Plug and Series 317
check valve from Victaulic are quickly and
easily installed with Style 31 couplings. With
just two bolts per coupling, the valves can
be installed up to three times faster than
flanged valves. The couplings also simplify
access to the valve and piping sysSeries 365 Vic-Plug and Series
tem, enabling quicker maintenance
317 check valve from Victaulic
and reducing system downtime. The
check and plug valves are designed to ANSI/AWWA standards. The endto-end dimensions, materials and general design of the Series 317 check
valve conform to AWWA C-508; the Series 365 Vic-Plug valve conforms
to AWWA C-509 standard end-to-end dimensions. The grooved ends of
both valves conform to AWWA C-606. They are available in 3- to 12-inch
sizes, and can be used in applications with maximum working pressures
of 175 psi. Bidirectional sealing to 25 psi is standard for the Series 365
plug valve; full bidirectional sealing to 175 psi is also available. 610/5593300; www.victaulic.com.
For FREE information on these products, check the box(es) below:

Blowers
Eurus Blower ZG tri-lobe aeration blowers
FPZ SCL K10-MS blower
Wastewater Depot Packaged Blower Motor Units
Drives
DSI Dynamatic Eddy Current Drives
Kaman Industrial Technologies Trans-Power
decentralized AC drive solutions
Hydrants
WCM Industries Woodford U200M/W utility hydrant

Motor and Pump Controls
Crystal Engineering XP2i digital pressure gauge
Greyline Instruments Model DFS 5.1 Doppler Flow Switch
PRIMEX MUNI float
Pulsar Process Management Flow Pulse
Smith Flow Control FlexiDrive remote valve operator
Pumps
BBA Pumps BA180E D315 pump
Blue-White Industries ProSeries-M M-2
peristaltic pump
BJM Pumps SKGF Series submersible pump
Boerger BLUEline rotary lobe pump
Crane Pumps & Systems Barnes Solids Handling
Series pumps
Environment One Corporation All-Terrain Sewer (ATS)
Flygt - a Xylem Brand Experior pump system
Goulds Water Technology, a Xylem brand,
e-HM Series of multistage pumps
Grundfos Pumps SL1 submersible wastewater pump
Lakeside Equipment Corporation screw pumps
Megator Corp. Alpha skimmer
Met-Pro Global Pump Solutions Fybroc 5530 Series
vertical pump
Connect with us
Neptune Chemical Pump Company 7000 Series
mechanical metering pump

Pentair - Fairbanks Nijhuis VTSH-SCR pump
ProMinent Fluid Controls gamma/ X solenoid
diaphragm metering pump
Pulsafeeder PULSAtron pumps
Schreiber tube-mounted screw pump
Smith & Loveless STAR ONE pump
SPX FLOW CombiSump pump
Stenner Pump Company SVP Series peristaltic
metering pump
Taco SFI pumps
Thompson Pump standby pump units
Vaughan Company Triton screw centrifugal pumps
Veriflo Pump Company 2100 Series trash and solidshandling pump
Wanner Engineering Vector Model 2006 peristaltic pump
Wilden Pump & Engineering Advanced FIT AODD pumps
PRINT NAME:
Seals
Hoffman & Lamson, Gardner Denver Products,
MAX Seal
Inpro/Seal Company Smart Shaft Grounding
Valves
Force Flow/Halogen Eclipse emergency valve
shut-off system
Henry Pratt Company Triton butterfly valves
Lined Valve Company bonneted knife gate valve
OCV Control Valves Model 22 control valves
Proco Products ProFlex Style 750 inline check valve
Schiebel Actuators electric spring-return actuators
Victaulic Series 365 Vic-Plug and Series 317 check valve
FREE subscription to TPO magazine
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Scan and email to: nicole.labeau@colepublishing.com / Fax to: 715-546-3786

Mail to: COLE Publishing Inc., P.O. Box 220, Three Lakes WI 54562
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(continued)
55
case studies
PUMPS, DRIVES, VALVES, BLOWERS AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS
Valve positioner provides boost to effluent quality
Problem
An Illinois wastewater treatment plant needed to improve valve position

on each of its three drainage doors, then send the information to an Emerson Process Delta V plant control system for monitoring. Because each door
had different opening characteristics, plant personnel had to be able to
modify the analog output signal for each unit. To complicate matters, the
valve actuator housings were small and located in challenging
environments.
Solution
The plant purchased field-programmable Kinax 2W2 Angular Position Transmitters from Absolute Process Instruments. Each
transmitter is 1.95 inches in diameter and 1.1 inches deep, small enough to
be installed in the actuator housings. They use relative capacitive sensing
technology and create no drag on the valve gearing.
RESULT
The transmitters gave the plant an accurate and repeatable linear
4-20 mA signal for the valve position that was easily interfaced with the
plants control system. This allowed the operators to accurately control
the drainage doors for better flow control, resulting in improved effluent quality. 800/942-0315; www.api-usa.com.
Drive technology keeps water flowing
Problem
The Public Utilities in Mooresville, North Carolina, needed to control

a new water plants 800 hp pumps. The system needed to prevent the higherpower pumps from overpowering an older facility.
Solution
The plant worked with Eaton to design and install an adjustablefrequency drive (AFD) system. A compact integrated control gear
solution close-coupled the new
drive with the plants existing
Eaton Ampgard medium-voltage
motor control. By integrating its
SC9000 encapsulated powerpole
(EP) AFD and motor control
with a bus connection, the new
drive was installed without moving cables and equipment. The
design kept the AFD in one
room with no modifications and tied it back to the plants existing communications system.
RESULT
The system controlled water flow, enabled a lower speed and made
it possible to use new and old treatment plants for increased capacity and
redundancy. As a representative responsible to the citizens of Mooresville, we wanted to find a way to implement the equipment we had on
hand, says Barry McKinnon, Public Utilities director. Eatons AFD
drive solution has performed with no problems, helping us ensure water
treatment services for our customers. 877/386-2273; www.eaton.com.
56
By Craig Mandli
Pumps tackle large bypass project,

allowing infrastructure upgrades
Problem
The 54-inch concrete sanitary sewer line in Greenwich, Connecticut,

was being attacked by hydrogen sulfide and deteriorating. After a condition
assessment, it was determined that the critical pipe should be rehabilitated
as soon as possible.
Solution
To complete the rehab without disturbing daily operations, a 40.9 mgd

temporary bypass system diverted the flow from three areas of town to the
wastewater treatment plant. The town rented 20 diesel-drive pumps
(Godwin, a Xylem brand) and 11,000 feet of 18-inch HDPE pipe. The
sewer bypass flowed out of five separate suction locations and was set up to
handle low and high flows. The
pumps automatically turned on
or shut off as flow varied. An
additional pump was placed at
each location for backup. Two factory-trained mechanics were on
site 24/7 with service vehicles fully
stocked with parts.
RESULT
The engineers helped guide
the process from start to finish. The 35-day installation process went
off without a hitch, as did the eight-week bypass while the sewer line
was rehabilitated. 877/959-9881; www.xylem.com/dewatering.
Piston pumps enable plant to increase

amount of biosolids handled
Problem
After two major expansions, the City of Glens Falls (New York) Wastewater Treatment Plant staff decided to supplement its solids with outside
waste and opened a receiving facility. Today,
the plant accepts a broad range of materials.
However, the benefits were moot without the
ability to effectively incinerate what was
collected.
Solution
By upsizing to a larger pair of Schwing

Bioset piston pumps, the plant increased
pumping capability to deal with increased
biosolids handling. The pumps take cake
dewatered to 24 to 26 percent solids and pump
it for incineration, where a 32-ton load (an
18-wheel trailer full) can be reduced to 100
pounds of ash.
RESULT
The long-term performance of the pumps has helped the plant
remain viable in serving the city and surrounding areas. 715/247-3433;
www.schwingbioset.com.
New valve configurations help maintain

water pressure at plant
Problem
Patoka Lake, Indiana, nearly doubled its water treatment plants capability
with a complex network of pipes, booster pumping stations, elevated tanks
and reservoirs. To keep water flowing smoothly, the plant needed different
control valve solutions to maintain the pressure in each district-metered area.
Wastewater Depot, LLC
Fiberglass Blower Packages
Solution
Two bypass pump control valves from Singer Valve were put
between the pump discharge and check valve to prevent surges when starting the pumps and increase the pipeline flow. Two 12-inch flow-metering
valves with internal drop check were installed downstream of the pumps to
prevent reverse flow and eliminate a downstream check valve. Coupled with
a multi-process control panel, these valves can measure and control the
flow, making it possible to program varying flow setpoints during the day.
Finally, a 24-inch control valve
partnered with an EPC-4XF control panel and X156 position transmitter for valve position indication
handles additional flows to multiple water plants equally.
RESULT
The right valves for each
application and the ability to
tweak each valve with various backup features and remote control
options gave Patoka Lake the flexibility to manage water distribution
effectively. The upgrades allow the city to grow and welcome new residents with reliable water flow. 604/594-5404; www.singervalve.com.
Wastewater Depot, LLC

Batavia, OH
info@wastewaterdepot.com
Complete Custom Blower Packages

Five different vented fiberglass enclosure sizes
Sound enclosure available for additional
sound reduction
Optional fiberglass, steel, stainless
or aluminum bases and hoods
Pre-engineered to meet specific
project requirements
Roots, Sutorbilt or Tuthill positive
displacement blowers
ODP or TEFC motors (XP available)
Discharge piping with pressure relief valve,
pressure gauge, check valve and rubber hose
connection for ease of installation
Provide excellent protection
and weather resistance
Electronically non-conductive
Resist ultraviolet degradation and
never needs to be painted
Factory adjusted for elevation levels
at the project site
Specialized requirements
www.wastewaterdepot.com
513-732-0129
CLASSIFIED
ADVERTISING
Water plant replaces chemical feed system

with efficient upgrade
Problem
The Coastside County Water District (CCWD) in northern California

provides treated water to the scenic town of Half Moon Bay and several
unincorporated communities in the area. The system is served by two treatment plants, the Nunes Water Treatment Plant (4.5 mgd) and Denniston
Creek Water Treatment Plant (1 mgd), and water is distributed through
about 100 miles of transmission and distribution pipe. Part of a plan to
modernize and upgrade water treatment capabilities focused on the elimination of 1-ton chlorine gas cylinders at Nunes and 150-pound pressurized
gas cylinders at Denniston. Aside from the obvious improvements in operator and community safety,
the cost savings related to the
risk management plan and
emergency scrubber maintenance made sense.
Solution
CCWD ultimately chose

the Process Solutions
Microclor OSHG system from UGSI Solutions for both plants, with
Denniston installing a 40-pound-per-day system first and Nunes utilizing
a 100-pound-per-day system about a year later.
RESULT
Both systems have performed according to spec, with minimal
maintenance needed. 858/218-3745; www.ugsicorp.com.
J U LY
COVERS
RENTAL EQUIPMENT
POND & TANK COVERS: Industrial & Environmental Concepts makes gas-collection
covers, odor-control covers, heat-retention
covers and anaerobic digester covers. Call
952-829-0731 www.ieccovers.com (oBM)
Area/Velocity gravity flow monitor rentals.

All inclusive software, rings, sensors, data
loggers, $350 meter/mo. Also have ADS
Model#4000 meters and parts for sale.
Call Mike 678-900-6805
(C07)
EDUCATION
RoyCEU.com: We provide continuing education courses for water, wastewater and water distribution system operators. Log onto
www.royceu.com and see our approved
states and courses. Call 386-574-4307 for
details.
(oBM)
PRESSURE WASHERS
Industrial Pressure Washer - New w/warranty $9,500. 2,000psi, 18gpm. 999cc Kohler &
AR pump. Will deliver. 321-800-5763 (MBM)
Honda horizontal GX engines, new in-thebox w/warranty. GX200QX - $399; GX270QAG - $579; GX390QA - $599 delivered
price. 800-363-9855 or GXParts.com (MBM)
Liquid vacs, wet/dry industrial vacs, combination jetter/vacs, vacuum street sweeper &
catch basin cleaner, truck & trailer mounted
jetters. All available for daily, weekly, monthly,
and yearly rentals. VSI Rentals, LLC, 888822-8648; www.vsirentalsllc.com. (CBM)
SERVICE/REPAIR
Dynamic Repairs - Inspection Camera
Repairs: 48 hour turn-around time. General
Wire, Ratech, RIDGID, Electric Eel Mfg, Gator
Cams, Insight Vision, Vision Intruders. Quality
service on all brands. Rental equipment
available. For more info call Jack at 973478-0893. Lodi, New Jersey.
(CBM)
Submit your classified ad online!

www.tpomag.com/classifieds/place_ad
57
product news
8
3
6
1
4
9
10
5
1. BEDROCK UNIVERSAL CONTROL SYSTEM
The Bedrock industrial control system from Bedrock Automation
frees users from the constraints of traditional automation. Features include
a pinless, electromagnetic backplane and embedded cyber security. The
removal of I/O pins improves reliability and increases cyber security
while forming a galvanic isolation barrier for every I/O channel. Secure
I/O modules use layers of advanced technology to deliver softwaredefined I/O for universal analog, discrete, Ethernet and Fieldbus signal
types. A secure power module is functionally and physically coupled to
the backplane to deliver single and dual redundant cyber-secure power
for the control system. 781/821-0280; www.bedrockautomation.com.
2. KOHLER TIER 4 FINAL DIESEL MOBILE GENERATORS

The Tier 4 Final 90REOZT4 and 120REOZT4 diesel-powered mobile
generators from Kohler Power Systems are EPA emission certified for
non-road use and equipped with a DOT-certified trailer with durable
enclosure for easy maintenance. Nothing is attached to the enclosure;
all wiring and connections are through the back of the unit, making it
easy to remove the entire enclosure for fast engine access. Both units use
John Deere Tier 4 Final 4.5L engines that help lower operating costs
with efficient performance and fuel savings. The 90REOZT4 is capable
of a 78-85 kW standby rating, 70-76 kW prime rating and 62-69 kW continuous rating. The 120REOZT4 achieves a 95-105 kW standby rating,
90-96 kW prime rating and 79-89 kW continuous rating. 800/544-2444;
www.kohlerpower.com
3. A.Y. McDONALD BOTTOM SUCTION PUMP

The bottom suction pump from A.Y. McDonald is designed to provide maximum drawdown in cisterns or tanks. Available with a 1/2 or
3/4 hp, 115-volt motor, it pumps 15 gpm. Features include quiet operation and corrosion-resistant material for clean and dirty water, rainwater or pond water. 800/292-2737; www.aymcdonald.com.
4. ENDRESS+HAUSER LIQUID MEASUREMENT RADAR

The Micropilot NMR81 radar from Endress+Hauser utilizes 79
GHz technology for high-accuracy custody transfer applications.
Designed for level measurement applications in liquids, the sharply
focused microwave beam angle ensures safe and reliable measurements
without any interfering signals, even in narrow tanks with baffles. Measurements to the bottom in very tall tanks are easier because the beam
does not hit the tank walls prematurely. The technology permits measuring ranges of up to 70 meters. 888/363-7377; www.us.endress.com.
5. BINMASTER CONTINUOUS FLOAT LEVEL SENSORS

Magnetostrictive MPX-R and MPX-E level sensors from BinMaster
feature Class 1, Division 1 hazardous location approvals. Designed to
deliver accurate, repeatable level readings in hard environments, the
MPX-R sensor has a large, buoyant, robust float and is typically unaffected by temperature. The MPX-E sensor has a compact design for constrained spaces. It can be configured for taking one or two measurements
at both the interface level measurement and a total volume level. Both
58
sensors are compatible with any Modbus controller or PLC. 800/278-4241;

www.binmaster.com.
6. PARK PROCESS BIG TIPPER DEWATERING BOX

Big Tipper dewatering boxes from Park Process are available in a
multitude of capacities and tipping heights. Mounted on permanent stands
to eliminate hauling containers to the landfill, where they can become
damaged in transit and when emptying, the units include handrails,
walkways and stairs or ladders. 888/611-7275; www.parkprocess.com.
wastewater:
product spotlight
Gorman-Rupp end-suction pumps
designed for high flow, greater head
By Ed Wodalski
7. AMERICAN-MC OUTDOOR WATERSAMPLING STATION

The model EZ-02CFW stainless steel sampling station from American-MC is designed for evaluating water quality in inclement weather
conditions. In addition to reducing false positives, the unit is specifically designed for the safe collection of bacteriological samples from a
designated point that is fed directly from the water main. Features
include a built-in, full-flow flushing valve and weathertight sealing closure that contains protective wind/rain guards. Between sampling
intervals and during the sampling process, the three-position, self-sealing lid works in concert with the EZ-02FCWs wind/rain guards to produce the best possible sample. 805/642-9924; www.american-mc.com.
8. ELECTRO STATIC TECHNOLOGY VOLTAGE DIVERTERS

AEGIS PRO Series rings from Electro Static Technology are designed
to divert harmful VFD-induced shaft voltages safely to ground, protecting large AC and DC motors from bearing damage. Available for motor
shafts up to 30 inches in diameter, the rings, available in solid and split
versions, are specially designed for high-current applications such as
generators, turbines and medium-voltage motors. Solid rings are made
for installation on new or repaired motors prior to their installation.
Split rings come in mating halves that simplify field installation around
the shafts of in-service/coupled motors. The PRO SLR Ring features
O-ring barriers that prevent the ingress of dust, debris and excessive
contamination that could lessen contact of the rings conductive microfibers with the motor shaft. 866/738-1857; www.est-aegis.com.
9. BIONOMIC INDUSTRIES FLUIDIZED BED SCRUBBER

The RotaBed fluidized bed scrubber from Bionomic Industries is
designed to handle gas capacities from 500 through 250,000 acfm. The
scrubbers turbulent, packless, highly plug-resistant mass transfer bed
is up to 99 percent open in the fluid contact scrubbing zone and delivers
ultrahigh-efficiency gas absorption and particulate collection of over 99
percent on most applications. A two-stage chevron mist eliminator
ensures complete droplet removal from the gas exiting the scrubber.
Typical applications include acid gas removal from high-temperature
thermal oxidizers, odor control and VOC removal from process operations, product dryers and waste treatment operations. 800/311-6767;
www.bionomicind.com.
10. ASA WASTEWATER ALKALINITY ANALYZER

The ChemScan alkalinity analyzer from Applied Spectrometry
Associates provides consistent, reliable chemical analysis for process
control and optimization in multiple-stream process monitoring and/or
difficult or dirty samples. The analyzer is easy to operate and maintain,
even by novice users with minimal chemical background or training.
Simple menu-driven, graphical display with instructions guides the
user every step of the way. A proprietary sample capture and delivery
system ensures precise, repeatable sample volume. Wide-bore sampleinlet tubing minimizes blockages, allowing even high-turbidity samples to be handled readily. 262/717-9500; www.asaanalytics.com.
The 6500 Series line of horizontal end-suction centrifugal pumps

from Gorman-Rupp Company are based on Prime
Aire and Prime Aire
Plus technology for
high-level performance
in the handling of solids
and water in wastewater treatment plants.
Designed for up
to 4-inch solids, the
pumps offer automatic priming and
6500 Series line of centrifugal pumps
re-priming for sewage bypass
from Gorman-Rupp Company
operations and other applications where intermittent flow can be a problem.
The 6500 Series can be used on plant processes like return activated sludge and waste activated sludge, says Vincent Baldasare, sales
manager, engineered systems, Gorman-Rupp. Other processes include
influent equalization, effluent pumping, dewatering, sludge loading
and non-potable utility water applications.
Pump sizes range from 3 to 16 inches with the 16-inch pump capable of delivering flows up to 15,000 gpm and the 10-inch model capable of 540 feet of total dynamic head.
Features include ductile iron casing, oversized bearings for longer
life, alloy steel shafts with stainless steel options and sight gauges on
both sides of the bearing and seal cavities.
If the pump is installed against other equipment or against a wall
and the sight gauge happens to be on either the left side or the right
side of the pump, it might be in a spot that is not easily viewable, he
says. We chose to put the sight gauges on both sides of the bearing
housing and the oil cavity. Its your eyes inside the bearing cavity or
seal cavity to see if theres enough oil in there and its in good condition. If that oil would appear milky in color, it would be indicative of
potential seal failure or potential lip seal failure. Its a maintenance
feature that we provide.
Other features include oversized bearings for longer life, double
volute on larger models, atmospheric vent, side access inspection port
(solids handling models) and Smart Scroll indexable discharge locator.
Were able to move the discharge location in almost any position
from 180 degrees on the left and right side of the pump, he says. Thats
important from a retrofit application. If youre replacing another brand
pump, you can rotate the discharge location to match the existing piping,
which would eliminate having to do any major re-piping of the system.
The 6500 Series pumps require minimal maintenance.
Some of the things we offer are a replaceable wear ring, which is
secured to the suction head, Baldasare says. We supply pusher bolt
holes for easy removal of the wear ring. We also have pusher bolt holes
for removal of the suction head to access the wear ring as well. 419/7551011; www.grpumps.com.
(continued)
59
water:
product spotlight
IBC tote scale and electronic Chem-Scale from Force Flow
Force Flow scales safely monitor

chemical usage
By Ed Wodalski
The IBC tote scale and electronic Chem-Scale from
Force Flow enable operators to safely track chemical usage
and comply with reporting regulations. Both scales warn
of dangerous over- and underfeed conditions, prevent systems from running empty and offer remote monitoring
that reduces the risk of chemical exposure.
In a treatment plant, probably the No. 1 thing that is monitored with
the tote scale is polymer, says Mike Townsend, sales and marketing manager for Force Flow. Polymer is typically the most expensive chemical a
treatment plant purchases.
Using a weigh scale for polymer helps operators fine-tune the amount
being fed to achieve maximum removal of suspended solids. If you overfeed, not only are you throwing money away, you can be reducing the effectiveness of the polymer.
The tote scale utilizes weighing technology to create a reliable, noncontacting chemical monitoring system that avoids problems other monitoring technologies face caused by irregular tank shapes, corrosive chemical
fumes, fluctuating temperatures and changes in specific gravity.
By tracking the weight, not only do you know when youre running
out and need to switch totes, you also know at all times the status of your
chemical inventory, Townsend says. You could use other technologies
like level probes or ultrasonic sensors, but when youre talking about IBC
totes, a scale is perfect because you dont need to insert anything into the
tote. Simply place it on the scale deck.
Unlike the tote scale, the Chem-Scale is designed for nonportable ves-
sels. It can monitor sodium hypochlorite, poly-orthophosphate, sodium

bisulfate, fluoride, caustic and alum, as well as polymer.
The tote scale has a backstop that makes it easy for the operator to
quickly position the tote, Townsend says. A Chem-Scale has a tankrestraint clip in each corner to hold the tank stationary.
Chem-Scales are designed to handle from about 55- to 500-gallon tanks
and can send signals to a PLC or SCADA system, enabling operators to
remotely monitor the chemical and limit exposure. Options include autorefill, 316 stainless steel and MaxSense high-accuracy models for special
applications, such as monitoring brine tanks.
Instrumentation options enable operators to view basic weight information or more advanced data such as how much has been fed over a 24-hour
period, current feed rate and how many days until the tank needs refilling.
Usually youll have a metering pump attached to your day tank,
Townsend says. If that vapor locks or has a problem, you might still be
getting a signal from your pump saying youre feeding and the system is
running, but theres no loss of weight on the scale. So you can go and
address that. Its another line of knowledge in the process. 800/893-6723;
www.forceflow.com.
FREE INFO ON THIS PRODUCT RETURN FOLLOWING FORM
For FREE information on these products, check the box(es) below:

1. Bedrock Automation industrial control system
2. Kohler Power Systems Tier 4 Final 90REOZT4 and 120REOZT4 mobile generators
3. A.Y. McDonald bottom suction pump
4. Endress+Hauser Micropilot NMR81 radar
5. BinMaster MPX-R and MPX-E level sensors
6. Park Process Big Tipper dewatering boxes
7. American-MC model EZ-02CFW sampling station
8. Electro Static Technology AEGIS PRO Series rings
9. Bionomic Industries RotaBed fluidized bed scrubber
10. Applied Spectrometry Associates ChemScan alkalinity analyzer
Gorman-Rupp Company 6500 Series line of centrifugal pumps
Force Flow IBC tote scale and electronic Chem-Scale
O0716
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MARKETPLACE ADVERTISING
industry news
Mechanical Seals
Aqua-Aerobic Systems releases product brochure
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Aqua-Aerobic Systems published a 12-page cloth media technology brochure highlighting the features and benefits of OptiFiber technology, its
available mechanical configurations including AquaDisk, AquaDiamond
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research and development. Visit www.aqua-aerobic.com to view or download
the brochure.
Send your old seals to Gaddis

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KROHNE becomes comprehensive instrument provider

KROHNE has become a comprehensive instrument provider, offering a
full range of measurement solutions for process measurement applications.
Its North America operations include a service and repair facility and extensive calibration facilities. A technical application support center provides
24/7/365 post-sale support, installation and wiring assistance, configuration
and troubleshooting. A field service division supplies factory-authorized and
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WesTech adds Digabits software platform

WesTech Engineering, provider of water treatment technology and solutions, signed an agreement to deploy Digabits Documoto software platform.
WesTech aims to expand aftermarket part sales revenue and provide more
accurate parts information to resellers and other customers. Company leaders chose Documotos flexible cloud-based publishing solution as the quickest path toward achieving those goals. A large share of WesTechs equipment
sales involve uniquely customized machines installed at globally dispersed
locations, making parts identification a critical task for aftermarket sales
and service personnel.
Virginia water treatment plant project

begins second phase
Meurer Research Inc.s inclined plate settlers and hoseless cable-vac
sludge collectors are being installed to replace aging equipment, improve
effluent quality and enhance solids removal at the Richmond, Virginia, water
treatment plant. The MRI system is designed for a maximum peak flow of
140 mgd. To retrofit the four sedimentation basins, MRI equipment is being
installed in one basin per year over a four-year period. The phased approach
enables the Richmond plant one of the largest water producers in Virginia
to be upgraded without interrupting operations. Retrofitting of the second basin will be completed this year. Installation in the first basin was completed in 2015. The final two basins will be completed in 2017 and 2018.
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61
worth noting
people/awards
The Fayetteville (North Carolina) Public Works Commission received
a Wastewater Collection System of the Year award from the North Carolina
AWWA-WEA.
The City of Bisbee received the Clean Water Project of the Year award
from the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona for a solar addition at the San Jose Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Clearford Water Systems won the 2016 Corporate Innovation Award
from the Ontario Onsite Wastewater Association for its innovative Pay for
Performance financing model.
The Massachusetts Maritime Academy Wastewater Treatment Plant
in Buzzards Bay and the Burrillville (Rhode Island) Sewer Commission
received 2015 Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant Excellence Awards from
the U.S. EPA.
George Michael Coley of Somers received the Wastewater Operator Certification Governance Council Award from the New York WEA. Coley is first
deputy commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Environmental Facilities in New Rochelle. He serves on the NYWEA Member Education Committee and the Succession Task Force and is a licensed professional
engineer.
Robert K. Fullagar, director of distribution with Middlesex Water Company, received the Harold V. Florence Meritorious Operator Award from the
AWWA New Jersey Section.
The City of Norwalks wastewater treatment plants received $351,824
through the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protections Nitrogen Credit Exchange Program. The money will go to the Norwalk Water Pollution Control Authority.
The Town of Greentown received a Merit Award for Engineering Excellence from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Indiana, recognizing the efficiency of the towns wastewater treatment plant expansion.
Working with Wessler Engineering, the town used energy-efficient technology and equipment to expand capacity, supporting economic and residential
growth while saving money on energy and disposal costs.
The Grand Rapids Public Utility received a 2015 Wastewater Treatment
Facility Operational Award from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
The Le Center Wastewater Treatment Facility received a Certificate of
Commendation from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for perfect
compliance in 2015.
Bruce Johnson, global technology leader for wastewater simulation with
CH2M Hill, was named an IWA Fellow by the International Water
Association.
John Douglas, operator at Rural Water District No. 2, Trego County,
was named Rural Water Operator of the Year by the Kansas Rural Water
Association.
Kina Patterson, customer service and sales representative with American Water Resources, received the Customer Engagement Professional Award
from the Professional Association for Customer Engagement (PACE).
Jeffrey H. Staul of the Greenville Water Authority received the Water
Operator of the Year award from the Pennsylvania Rural Water
Association.
Kim Benjamin, who has served 33 years with the Bradford City Water
Authority, will retire as executive director in August. He received the Guy
E. Shaffer Lifetime Achievement Award during his last conference with the
Pennsylvania Rural Water Association.
Harold Legge was named water operator of the year in the volunteer category at the 15th Annual Clean and Safe Drinking Water Workshop in Gander, sponsored by the Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Environment
and Conservation. Legge was chosen for his work maintaining the Flat Bay
West/Birchy Brook water supply.
62
events
July 10-13
Georgia AWWA Section Annual Conference, Savannah. Visit
www.gawwa.org.
July 10-13
Nutrient Removal and Recovery Specialty Conference,
presented by the Water Environment Federation, International
Water Association, Rocky Mountain WEA and Water Environment
Research Foundation; Hyatt Regency, Denver, Colorado. Visit
www.wef.org.
July 17-20
Kentucky-Tennessee WEA Conference, Knoxville (Tennessee)
Convention Center. Visit www.kytnwea.org.
July 17-20
Kentucky-Tennessee Section AWWA Annual Conference,
Knoxville Convention Center. Visit www.kytnawwa.org.
July 26-29
AWWA 2016 Summer Workshop & Education Summit,
downtown Denver, Colorado. Visit www.awwa.org.
Indiana American Water recognized employee Charles Kelley for 60

years of service. He started with Gary-Hobart Water Corporation in 1956
and now works as a field services representative. He is American Waters longest-tenured employee.
The Menlo Park (California) Municipal Water District earned a Silicon
Valley Water Conservation Award for its cumulative 47 percent water savings
since Gov. Jerry Brown ordered a statewide reduction of water use in June 2015.
Geneva Kaiser of Jamestown received the Outstanding Water Works
Employee award from the North Dakota Rural Water Systems Association.
The Glasgow Water Company water treatment plant at Lucas was recognized as the top water treatment facility in its state by the Kentucky Water
and Wastewater Operators Association.
Daniel Nix, utilities operations manager for the Wichita Falls (Texas)
Public Works Department, received the American Public Works Associations Charles Walter Nichols Award for Environmental Excellence.
Michigan State University professor Joan Rose received the 2016 Stockholm Water Prize. Rose, a global water science expert and Homer Nowlin
Chair in Water Research, is recognized for her research on microbial risk to
human health in water, her successful translation of the science to policymakers, and her leadership in developing the tools and guidelines required
to give policy and regulatory life to the science.
The City of Weatherford Water/Wastewater Department received the
the Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant of the Year award from the Water
Environment Association of Texas.
Two employees of Leitchfield Utilities received awards from the Kentucky Water & Wastewater Operators Association. Angel Saltsman received
the 2015 J.C. Chambers Award for Wastewater Operator of the Year. Robin
Strader, chief wastewater plant operator, received the 2015 Nicholas Award
for designing and implementing a field-only lab certification training.
The Village of Perry, New York, was named Water System of the Year
by the New York Rural Water Association.
Tim Doersam will replace Ernie Hinkle as water and gas manager in
Jasper, Indiana. Doersam has been with the water department since 1994,
and in 2007 became water filtration foreman. Hinkle was applauded for his
more than 30 years of service to the city.
TPO welcomes your contributions to this listing. To recognize members of your
team, please send notices of new hires, promotions, service milestones, certifications
or achievements to editor@tpomag.com.
TotalCare services
For secure, optimal operations
Xylem TotalCare is a comprehensive, integrated portfolio of

services that ensures your business keeps running at its best.
Our portfolio comes backed by deep systems knowledge
and expertise in water and wastewater applications. Which
gives you the operational security and more time to focus
on your core business.
What can Xylem do for you?
Call 1 704 4099700 or visit

www.xylemtotalcare.com
Operators
EVERYWHERE Trust
Bob Gentile
Superintendent
Struthers WWTP
Struthers, OH
Struthers Wastewater Treatment Plant in Ohio is making tremendous strides toward

going green. Through their installation of a methane-powered generator system
that uses methane collected from their anaerobic digesters, theyve increased the
efficiency of their plant, while committing to saving hundreds of thousands of
dollars on utility costs in future years.
Since the completion of the generator system, funded by $5.4 million stimulus
dollars from the Ohio EPA through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act, Struthers has seen big savings on energy costs. Superintendent Bob Gentile
shared, Our electrical costs are down from about $25,000 monthly to only
$13,000 or $14,000. Plus... our gas bills have dropped from about $1,700 per
month to around $500.
We rely on USABlueBook for

all of our MRO supplies.
In order to ensure their systems continued success, proper maintenance will be
crucial. While the installation of the generator system was handled by contractors,
we rely on USABlueBook for all of our MRO supplies. We just recently had to change
out a motor on one of our recirculation pumps, and you guys were able to help us
out. USABlueBook is great. Your book has everything we need, and our orders are
always shipped very nicely. We buy everything we can from you guys, said Bob.
Featured Products From

Safe & easy transfer of most treatment chemicals!
Available for use with sodium hypochlorite, polymers, flammable
liquids, highly viscous materials and dozens of other chemicals
Lutz Drum & Container Pumps

Customize your pump for your exact needs!
Each pump consists of two parts: a pump tube and a pump motor. Pump tubes
feature a sealless design with high-head impellers and a wall hanger bracket. Choose
based on chemical compatibility. Pump motors are available as electric or air-powered.
Choose from constant-speed motors, or variable-speed motors for precise flow control.
Choose from individual parts or easy-to-order pump sets
Order tube and motor separately, or as a complete pump set. Sets include both pump
tube and motor, as well as convenient accessories like a 6.5' hose with dispensing nozzle,
hose clamps, barrel adapter and wall hanger.
For more information, see page 1263 in Master Catalog 127,

or visit www.usabluebook.com/Lutz.
Pump Set w/ Electric Motor &

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800-548-1234 www.usabluebook.com
SPA-190716-00

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BARREN RIVER LAKE KEEPS QUALITY

The promise of biosolids

A flexible filter for

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ClearSpan Fabric Structures .. 21

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Flygt a Xylem Brand ............. 63

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Fresh Creek Technologies, Inc. 17

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Vaughan Company, Inc. ......... 11

Vertiflo Pump Company ........ 61

Gorman-Rupp Company ....... 33

Scan and email to: nicole.labeau@colepublishing.com / Fax to: 715-546-3786

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LETS BE CLEAR Page 8

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How was the lead contamination of tap water

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Dewatering box from AQUA-Zyme Disposal

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The LEVELRAT provides a simple and cost-effective solution

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